PCB BoG approves model constitution for associations

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Board of Governors (BoG) on Friday approved the model constitution for associations which have replaced the erstwhile regional associations as per the new PCB Constitution 2019.

The approval was given at the 56th BoG meeting in Lahore on Friday.

“The model constitution reflects the essence and spirit of the PCB Constitution 2019,” the PCB said. “It not only sets out the objectives and functions to be discharged by the Cricket Associations, but also contains guidelines/rules in respect of their operation as independent legal entities responsible for the development of first-class cricket in their respective jurisdictions; the supervision of City Cricket Associations under their control; and regulation of affairs of the Cricket Association itself as well,” it added.

Under the model constitution, which will shortly be available on the PCB’s corporate website, a Cricket Association will be incorporated and registered as a society under the relevant Societies Act, the membership of which will comprise affiliated City Cricket Associations.

Article 5 deals with City Cricket Association members. As per Article 6.1, the General Body of the Cricket Association will comprise President, Vice-President and Secretary, along with the President of each member City Cricket Association.

As per Article 9.1, the Management Committee will have three members elected by the General Body, three independent members nominated by the PCB Nominations Committee, two representatives of the Principal Sponsor of the Cricket Association and an elected President. The tenure of the members will be three years.

The qualification criteria for a General Body and/or Management Committee member is set out in Article 12.

The responsibilities of the Management Committee include appointments of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other officers of the Cricket Association and appointment of a selection committee on the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer. It will submit complete audited and management accounts to PCB; formulate policies for the development of cricket in its jurisdiction at all levels; control and/or manage the affairs of the stadium, sports complex(es), gymnasia and playing grounds owned or supervised by it; enter into contracts in furtherance of the objects of the Cricket Association; and implement the programmes formulated by the Cricket Association.

As per Article 24, the Principal Sponsor will be appointed through a transparent bidding process on a three- to five-year basis and shall be granted naming, branding and other sponsorship rights pertaining to the Cricket Association.

BOG members were apprised that as per Clause 16(2) of the PCB Constitution 2019, departments or organisations who were maintaining cricket teams participating in national tournaments at the time of promulgation of the new PCB Constitution shall be offered a first right of refusal to be the Principal Sponsor of the Cricket Associations. The PCB will now appoint and soon announce interim committees to run the Cricket Associations.

The BoG approved the creation and demarcation of the First City Cricket Associations. This was necessitated following the enforcement of the PCB Constitution 2019 in which six Cricket Associations have replaced 16 Regions.

According to the approved territorial distribution the following cities (including certain Zones within Lahore and Karachi) are now part of the below outlined Cricket Associations and shall be the first City Cricket Associations:

Balochistan (13) – Gwadar, Jaffarabad, Killa Abdullah (Chaman), Khuzdar, Naseerabad, Nushki (tagged Chaghi), Lasbela, Loralai, Panjgur, Pishin, Quetta (tagged Kalat), Sibi and Turbat.

Central Punjab (16) – Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhang, Kasur, Lahore (East Zone), Lahore (North Zone), Lahore (West Zone), Mandi Bahauddin, Mianwali, Narowal, Sargodha, Sheikhupura and Sialkot.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (19) – Abbottabad, Bajour, Bannu, Buner, Charsadda, Dera Ismail Khan (tagged Tank & SW), Haripur, Khyber Agency, Kohat, Kurram Agency, Lower Dir, Mansehra, Mardan, Mohmand Agency, Nowshera, Peshawar, Swabi, Swat and Upper Dir.

Northern (11) – Attock, Bagh-Hattian, Chakwal, Gilgit-Baltistan, Islamabad, Jhelum, Kotli-Sudhanoti, Mirpur-Bhimber, Muzaffarabad, Poonch-Kahuta Haveli and Rawalpindi.

Sindh (17) - Badin, Hyderabad, Jamshoro (tagged Thatta), Karachi Zone 1, Karachi Zone 2, Karachi Zone 3, Karachi Zone 4, Karachi Zone 5, Karachi Zone 6, Karachi Zone 7, Khairpur, Larkana (Dadu & Jacobabad), Mirpur Khas, Sanghar, Shaheed Benazirabad, Shikarpur and Sukkur

Southern Punjab (14) – Bahawalnagar, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Khanewal, Lodhran, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Okara, Pakpattan, Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Sahiwal and Vehari.

The BoG briefly discussed recent performances of Pakistan team and reiterated its support to head coach and chief selector Misbah-ul-Haq.

The Constitution of the Pakistan Deaf Cricket Association was also approved. The BoG was informed that the preliminary meeting of the Nominations Committee took place on November 18. A follow-up meeting will take place on December 10.

The BoG accepted the resignation of the PCB’s Chief Operating Officer and noted that in the interim period, the Chief Executive will assign the functions of the Chief Operating Officer to another officer of the Board.

It was agreed next BoG meeting will be scheduled in Peshawar. Dates will be announced later.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan informed the BoG that preparations to stage all 34 matches of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2020 in Pakistan are on track. “In this relation, and because Multan and Rawalpindi will be hosting the HBL PSL matches for the first time, PCB’s independent security consultants Eastern Star Internationals (ESI) will be carrying out inspections of these two venues from 29 November. Karachi and Lahore, the other two match venues, have already staged HBL PSL and international fixtures and, as such, they do not require fresh security clearance from the ESI,” he said.

Following the venue inspections, the PCB will formally announce the event dates and schedule, but it was confirmed that HBL PSL 2020 Player Draft will take place at the National Cricket Academy on December 6.

For the efficient and smooth event planning and delivery, an oversight committee, comprising PCB Chief Executive, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Board has been set up.

PCB Director Commercial, Babar Hamid, has been appointed as the chair of the Organising Committee, which will also include representatives of all the PCB departments.

It was acknowledged that the quality of pitches and curators’ training needed to be further improved for which the PCB was in discussions with Andy Atkinson, ICC’s pitch consultant.