ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced six CricketAssociation sides for the upcoming domestic cricket season 2019-20, whichgets underway with the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy from 14 September.

The local coaches and juniors selectors had initially prepared theprovisional squads of 32 players per side, before they were reviewed andfinalised by a three-member independent panel – comprising Misbah-ul-Haq,Nadeem Khan and Rashid Latif, who also took into account playerperformances from past three seasons.

The PCB centrally contracted cricketers, who are not handed the domesticcontracts, will feature in domestic events when not on the national duty.They have been divided equally amongst the Cricket Associations to ensuretop-quality and competitive cricket.

White ball specialists – both domestic and international – have also beenallocated to the six teams, who will be remunerated as per the domesticmatch fee model.

The six Cricket Association sides will gather in the cities, where theyplay their first matches, on 11 September.

For a robust succession plan, the onus of leading the cricket associationsides in the upcoming domestic season has been put on the young andemerging international and domestic players. The PCB has also brought inthe concept of mentorship, which will see former Test cricketers – withheaps of first-class experience – groom up-and-coming cricketers in theSecond XI sides.

Of the 32 contracted players with Balochistan Cricket Association, 44 percent are from the province. Rubbing shoulders with seasoned first-class andTest cricketers from around the country will help them develop therequisite skills for this level.

PCB, however, aims to have maximum representation from Balochistan withinthe next three to five years by developing a strong grassroots structurethrough the new Cricket Association and City Cricket Association structure.