ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is contemplating scrapping the coin toss in first-class tournaments.
PCB Managing Director Wasim Khan said while talking to ‘The News’ on Thursday that the board was working on measures to upgrade Pakistan’s first-class cricket structure in real terms.
“I was surprised to see scorecards of past seasons’ first-class matches. Matches finishing in a couple of days, teams getting out for low scores, no tough games that should be the forte of any first-class cricket and more of such things that I think contributed to the current state of Pakistan’s first class cricket,” he said.
Among other things, the PCB MD said, scrapping the toss could be one of the measures. “I think it would be a good move not to have the toss. That would take away the home team advantage. This way we will also get good pitches.”
England scrapped the mandatory toss in the County Championship from 2016. In domestic four-day matches, the visiting captain is given the option of bowling first or having the toss as normal to decide which side bats first.
“There is a dire need to have competitive pitches in first-class cricket as currently the overall standard is low. Every measure will be taken to have good playing strips. Curators’ performance will also be under scrutiny,” Wasim said.
The PCB MD said national and regional cricket academies would be monitored. “Besides the financial audit, there is a dire need of activity audit of the academies. The PCB invests a heavy amount on these academies. Financial audit is must but activity audit is more important. Independent activity auditors will monitor the academies,” he said.
Wasim hoped the future domestic cricket set-up would be finalised in a couple of months. “We have our plan, the loose ends are being worked on. At completion, it will be placed before Patron in Chief Imran Khan for approval.”
The PCB MD, himself a first-class cricketer, said performance of selection committees was also being reviewed.
“I admit there is a need for adjustments in selection committees. Senior and junior committees are must but there should be better coordination between the two. Both committees should be inter linked.
“We have already changed the women’s selection committee. The selectors have to be relevant. They should have the understanding of the entire system.”
Wasim held junior cricket in high esteem. “Juniors’ fate should be in hands of a professional coach. We are working on streamlining the affairs at the under-19 and under-16 level. Domestic cricket is the biggest challenge I face. There is disconnect between coaches and committees. We have to plug that gap to get better results,” he said.
He also vouched to bring transparency in selection matters. “We will follow merit in selection. Performances will be the criteria,” he said.
Wasim said there should be a strategy to achieve results on all fronts. “There is no strategy, no future plan. At least a five-year plan should be there to achieve results. I have no baggage to carry and that is why I am better placed to take tough but result producing decisions, which I will do.”