In a significant development, the newly appointed PCB Management Committee gathered for a crucial meeting in Lahore to deliberate on the forthcoming domestic season, as mandated by the 2014 constitution.
Regional Teams and Ball Selection Take Center Stage
As per media reports, the meeting revolved around two key points: the inclusion of regional teams and the usage of Duke balls in the upcoming 2023 domestic season.
Former Captains at Odds
However, the meeting hit a roadblock as the three former captains, Rashid Latif, Mohammad Hafeez, and Misbah-ul-Haq, failed to reach a unanimous decision on these critical matters.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the recently appointed head of the Management Committee, argued in favor of including eight regions in the domestic season, while Mohammad Hafeez suggested involving six regions. On the other hand, Rashid firmly supported the inclusion of a significant 16 regions in First-Class cricket for this year. Notably, Rashid Latif stressed the importance of incorporating the Sialkot region in the upcoming edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy scheduled for September.
Ball Choice Creates Disagreement
Apart from regional teams, the choice of cricket balls also sparked disagreement among the former players. All three expressed their disapproval of using Duke balls in domestic cricket, favoring the utilization of Kookaburra balls instead.
However, Junaid Zia, the director of domestic cricket, clarified that returning the Duke balls was not an option as they were specifically ordered for the season.
