Pakistan Cricket Board's new domestic cricket structure, which revolves around the creation of a more quality and intensity focused system to significantly improve first-class cricket, has received the backing of Pakistani cricketers including present and former players.
They maintained that the new domestic cricket structure will give importance to club cricket, provide the best cricketing environment to young talented cricketers, reward top performers, create employment opportunities for former cricketers and qualified coaches, and bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.
Former Test fast-bowler and head coach of HBL PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars Aaqib Javed said the new system is focusing on quality while overcoming the challenges and confusion of the past. He said: "I have studied the new domestic structure; it is a dream come true kind of a situation.
Our domestic system was criticised from all quarters in recent years and the reason was that the system was inclined more towards quantity rather than quality. It was really tough to explain to outsiders what our domestic system was and there was a lot of confusion."
Former cricketer Ghulam Ali, who played domestic cricket in Pakistan for 17 years, feels the new system will produce mentally tough cricketers, who should progress to international cricket with relative ease. He said: "There were some doubts about the new domestic structure, initially; there was some resistance to the change, now it seems that there are some real positives, especially, since there are only six very competitive teams.
This system will ensure quality which means the performers here would be mentally tough and should be able to make the next step to international cricket relatively easy.
The pay structure looks pretty impressive, players will have to work hard to maintain fitness in order to ensure they keep their contracts and perform at a consistent basis."
Former Pakistan captain and commentator Ramiz Raja congratulated the PCB on the new domestic system. Ramiz hopes the system will bring meritocracy both in administration and player selection. He said: "It is an extremely courageous and bold move by the PCB to revamp the domestic structure.
The old system was not working and its failings were reflected in our inconsistent performances on the international scene. This new system is very logical with emphasis on city based and province based system. I want to congratulate the PCB on this important step.
Going forward, it would be vital for the PCB to hire capable administrators to run the city based associations, people who don't have vested interests or indulge in club level politics."
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi also backed the new domestic system saying the new system will once again bring value to first-class cricket and cricketers and it will encourage performers, making them work hard to retain their contracts. He said: "This system looks very good as it is set to promote quality over quantity. In recent years, first-class cricket was made a little too easy and a lot of first-class players emerged due to the sheer quantity of games.
This new system brings back value to a first-class cricketer, which I feel had gone missing with the increase in quantity of players.
With only having six teams in the fray, we will surely see a drastic improvement in the quality of the competition."
Former cricketer Bazid Khan feels the biggest positive of the new system should be the quality of pitches and also hoped that umpiring standards would improve with greater scrutiny than ever on the match officials.
Former Test captain Rashid Latif said, "The new domestic system is focused on providing more quality, through the new system's spaced out first-class schedule, the curators will have plenty of time to prepare quality pitches. Rashid is willing to give the system two to three years for fruition and a positive impact on Pakistan cricket. "
Test cricketer Fawad Alam said: "It's a new system and hopefully it would be good for cricketers and Pakistan cricket. It will take time to grasp it properly as a player. In my own experience, playing international cricket is a bit easier compared to domestic cricket since there are many challenges that players need to overcome in a domestic season, there is a big struggle that one has to go through."
Cricketer Shan Masood said, "It seems that unlike the past, the focus is only on quality of the competition rather than quantity. Through the new system we are likely to see meaningful and competitive games only, there won't be any easy games, regardless of the pitches, the quality of the opposition will make it a tough proposition for the players. I really do feel that this system can bring good results, it should be exciting and worthy for all involved."
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