*ISLAMABAD -* The PCB Cricket Committee held its first meeting of 2020under the chairmanship of former Test spinner Iqbal Qasim. Wasim Akram,Umar Gul, Urooj Mumtaz, Ali Naqvi, Wasim Khan and Zakir Khan (both co-optedmembers) attended the session.
Pakistan head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq and Haroon Rashid,Director – Domestic cricket operations, attended the meeting on specialinvitations.
The cricket committee recommended the PCB should explore a window in the2020-21 domestic cricket to slot in a tournament for the departments. Inthis relation, Director – Domestic cricket operations, Haroon Rashid, hasbeen requested to look into the potential window in the next season andupdate the cricket committee at the next meeting, which is expected inApril.
Haroon briefed the committee that the PCB has hosted 12 tournaments,comprising 190 matches, in the season to date. His presentation alsoincluded learnings, such as quality of practice facilities, food provisionfor players, player remunerations and standard of wickets, amongst otherareas. The committee requested that updates on the areas for improvement beprovided at the next meeting in April.
The cricket committee appreciated that the quality of cricket this seasonhad vastly improved, which has also been acknowledged through playerfeedback.
There was a discussion on the appointment of the six Cricket Associationcoaches and the process that will be adopted for analysing and assessingtheir performance. It was agreed that further investment in developing theknowledge, skills and capabilities of the elite coaches was needed in orderto adopt more modern practices.
PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan briefed the committee that a more throughfit for purpose and revised No Objection Certificate (NOC) policy forplayers had been developed. The committee supported the revised NOC policy,while requesting that the PCB should fully and strictly follow it to ensurethat Pakistan’s elite cricketers continue to give precedence to domestictournaments above all else.
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The committee had a healthy discussion with Misbah-ul-Haq, who appraisedthem on his selection policies, performance of the side and forwardplanning. The cricket committee recommended more clarity around theselection process.
Misbah informed the committee that he had developed a nucleus of players,especially across Twenty20 cricket. The former captain added the HBLPakistan Super League 2020 will help him give final shape to his pool ofplayers for this year’s Asia Cup and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Urooj Mumtaz, who is also head of women’s wing and chair of the nationalwomen’s selection committee, provided an overview and update on theprogress women’s cricket have made in the past 12 month. She informed thecommittee about the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held from 21February to 8 March. Pakistan will play their opening match against theWest Indies on 26 February in Canberra.
Urooj briefed the committee on the ICC’s decision to introduce the ICCWomen’s U19 Cricket World Cup, which will help in identifying anddeveloping young talent and nurturing them into word-class cricketers. Thecommittee congratulated Urooj on the progress being made.
The committee insisted more investment, effort and work was needed tofurther promote and develop women’s cricket.
