Pakistan’s domestic cricket has often come under severe criticism for its quality and the standards that don’t quite match up to other international teams.
A PCB official said that besides restructuring of the domestic season, it would be made mandatory for players to appear in domestic matches to qualify for the Pakistan team.
By making participation mandatory in domestic competitions, the top-performers will then be considered for a place in the national cricket team.
The official added:
For example, Mohammad Amir, who has now retired from Test cricket has to play in the domestic One-Day cup and National T20 competitions to be considered for national selection.
He further added that active Test players will have to feature in first-class matches to guarantee a position in Pakistan’s team.
The PCB has, on the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, decided to revamp its domestic structure with first-class competitions now being limited to just six provincial teams while 16 regional teams will compete in division two (three-day) tournament besides the national one-day cup and T20 competitions.
As per plans, the Pakistan board will initially offer domestic contracts to 34 players selected for a provincial side as they have decided to end the participation of institutional sides in the first-class competition.
Departments and banks have been part of Pakistan’s premier domestic tournament (Quaid-e-Azam Trophy) since the early 70s and there is a fear that once their teams are not allowed to play in domestic matches their employed players will be rendered jobless.
The official said that the revised domestic structure was still being finalized as to implement it the board had to first make amendments in its constitution.
But he said the condition for players to play in domestic cricket was mandatory and wouldn’t be changed.
Similarly, the board is still sticking to its policy of allowing its centrally contracted players to appear in only two T20 foreign leagues but they are also giving permission on a case to case basis.
