LAHORE: In yet another unexpected development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced another overhaul of the country’s domestic cricket structure. Surprisingly, the new five-member committee formed to oversee this transformation has no designated head and notably excludes officials from domestic departments.
This move comes just a year after the PCB revamped its domestic framework, introducing new tournaments such as the Champions Cup and inter-collegiate competitions, while controversially sidelining long-standing events like the National One-Day Cup and junior-level tournaments for boys and girls.
Adding to the confusion, the boysâ junior tournament was abruptly halted after just one day of matches in its opening roundâand has remained in limbo since. The sudden suspension raised concerns about planning and prioritization in the domestic calendar.
The latest committee includes some familiar yet controversial faces. Data analyst Bilal Afzal, who has no background in international cricket, has been appointed as an adviser to the PCB chairman. He was earlier part of the equally criticized seven-member, headless national selection committee.
Former fast bowler Wahab Riaz, who has enjoyed several high-profile roles within PCB over the last yearâincluding senior team manager and currently director of the Champions Cupâis another member of this newly formed committee. Wahabâs rapid rise within PCB circles, despite a lack of administrative experience, continues to spark debate.
Another addition is ex-Test cricketer Aaqib Javed, who recently served as interim head coach of the national team and also held a selectorâs position before stepping down. His involvement is seen by some as an attempt to retain experienced voices within the setup, though his recent exit from the coaching role has left questions about consistency.
Rounding off the committee are PCBâs Chief Operating Officer Sumair Syed and Khawaja Nadeem, the president of the Lahore Region Cricket Association.
What stands out most about this formation is who wasnât included. PCBâs Director of Domestic Cricket, Khurram Niazi, and the Senior General Manager, Junaid Ziaâboth key figures responsible for overseeing domestic tournamentsâhave been excluded entirely from the committee. This omission has left many within the cricket community puzzled, especially as their roles directly relate to the domain now under review.
The PCB’s approach of frequently rotating individuals and excluding core stakeholders has once again drawn criticism from former players, analysts, and fans. The lack of departmental representation in particular is being viewed as a step backward, considering departments have historically played a critical role in nurturing talent and providing job security to domestic players.
With no committee head to lead and coordinate efforts, and the continued absence of junior-level events, many question whether this revamp will truly address the long-standing issues within Pakistanâs domestic cricket setupâor if it’s another round of cosmetic changes without long-term vision.
For now, all eyes remain on the PCBâs next steps, as stakeholders await clarity on the future of Pakistanâs cricket development.
