Pakistan government bars PCB from organising T10 League

Pakistan Cricket Board Logo (Photo Source: Twitter)

Zaka Ashraf, the head of the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) Management Committee, had developed a plan for hosting the T10 League in Pakistan, with discussions initiated with English County Cricket Club Middlesex. The proposed event included exhibition matches in Rawalpindi scheduled from January 24 to 26. However, the Pakistan government denied the board’s request for permission.

As per a Cricket Pakistan report, PCB has transferred a comprehensive project briefing to the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) in Islamabad. In response, the budget for the exhibition matches was reduced to PKR 28 crore. Simultaneously, the ministry sent a letter to PCB headquarters in Lahore, prohibiting the installation of chairs, solar panels, and fans in stadiums. In addition, the ministry imposed restrictions on the PCB, preventing them from signing Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with any cricket board to conduct the league.

As per Cricket Pakistan, Zaka Ashraf will oversee the matter in the upcoming PCB Management Committee meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes the formation of a new governing board, with four representatives each from four departments and regions. Shahbaz Sharif, former Prime Minister, has nominated Ashraf and Mustafa Ramday as government candidates. The inaugural session of the governing board is expected within a week, where nominations for the chairmanship will be received. Apart from this, the meeting will also address potential objections and hearings will also be conducted and subsequently announce the final list of candidates.

As per a report in Sportstar, PCB has already filed for approval from the government to organise a T10 league later in January. However, there could be an uncertainty on players’ availability.

“The board’s cricket management committee wants to have the T10 league from January 24-28 and wants all the contracted players to participate in the league. The problem is (that) some of the players are already committed to play in the Emirates International T20 League in UAE and some have been offered contracts for the Bangladesh Premier League. A large number of players with good contract offers for the BPL are still waiting for their NOCs,” a reliable source said to Sportstar.