ISLAMABAD, Jul 26 (APP): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday revealed the men’s domestic cricket season 2022-23, with the focus to create more playing opportunities for talented cricketers.
The seniors cricket would commence with the 33-match two-leg National T20, to be held in Rawalpindi and Multan from August 30 to September 19. Concurrently, the second XIs Cricket Associations Cup would be played in Quetta from September 2 to 15.
Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the jewel in the PCB’s crown, would be staged from September 27 to November 30 with Abbottabad, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Karachi sharing 31 matches between them. The Cricket Associations Championship would be played alongside the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in the same cities from September 27 to November 23.
Curtains on the 2022-23 domestic cricket season, would fall with the 33-match Pakistan Cup 50-over tournament, to be staged in Karachi from December 10 to January 3. Karachi would also stage the Cricket Associations Challenge from December 10 to 29.
In all, 187 matches are scheduled to be played over 127 days (August 30 to January 3). Salient features of the PCB 2022-23 men’s domestic cricket calendar were: Six-team Cricket Associations Cup (T20 format) would now be played on a double-league basis. This means each side will get a minimum of 10 matches and a total of 30 matches would be played. Previously, the event was held on a single-league basis with 15 matches.
The Six-team Cricket Associations Championship would now be a four-day non first-class competition. Previously, it was a three-day tournament.
The Six-team Cricket Associations Championship would be played on a double-league basis. This means each side would get a minimum of 10 matches and a total of 30 matches would be played. Previously, the event was held on a single-league basis with 15 matches.
The Six-team Cricket Associations Challenge would be played on a double-league basis. This means each side would get a minimum of 10 matches and a total of 30 matches will be played. Previously, the event was held on a single-league basis with 15 matches.
The seniors’ competitions would follow the CCA U19 tournament (May 21-June 4), CA Divisional U19 tournament (June 10-17), CCA Senior Tournament (June 19-July 21) and National U19 Cup (June 28-July 8). The CA Divisional Senior Tournament would take place from July 27 to August 12.
Director High Performance, Nadeem Khan said, “Making the domestic events competitive and challenging, while continuing to provide maximum opportunities to our talented cricketers to demonstrate their talent and help them graduate to the higher level, was the mainstay of our thought-process when we finalised the upcoming domestic season calendar.”
“Last year, we allowed each Cricket Association to field two under-19 sides in the National tournaments and this year we have increased the number of matches in the second XI CA Cup, Championship and Challenge.
“We have introduced a new concept whereby the non first-class CA Championship matches will be four-day fixtures. This will ensure the matches are well-contested and result-oriented, and the players get full opportunity to make the best from these games. This will also help in narrowing the gap with our first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy in which only the best of the best participate.
“We have also tried to streamline the player development and progression. Now, a talented U19 cricketer will not have to wait until the next year before playing in the seniors’ competition. I am sure that this year, we will see a few outstanding U19 cricketers from the CCA, CA and National tournaments that will feature in the topline events, as the pathways events have been designed to lead into the main competitions.
“Last year, youngsters Mubasir Khan of Northern and Balochistan’s Haseebullah were adjudged players of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and Pakistan Cup, respectively. It was heartwarming for the PCB to see the youngsters stepping up and dominating these tournaments.”
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