Provincial associations all set to seek powers to handle cricket affairs

ISLAMABAD: The top representatives of the six provincial cricket associations will be demanding financial and administrative powers when they hold an important meeting with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) top brass at the board’s headquarters in Lahore tomorrow (Tuesday).

The meeting that will be participated by PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan, Chief Operating Officer (COO) Salman Naseer, and Director Domestic High Performance Nadeem Khan will be discussing the future course of action of the selected associations (first boards). The administrative and financial hurdles these first boards currently experiencing are expected to be sorted out for the effective working.

When ‘The News’ approached a PCB official, he confirmed hosting such a meeting on July 27.

“Yes, the meeting is meant to discuss different issues confronted by the first boards regarding smooth working and the arrangements the PCB has planned for the provincial bodies during the domestic season that has already kicked off,” he said.

‘The News’ has learnt that the first boards are facing multiple problems in generating cricket activities at the provincial level and these include financial and administrative issues. With inter-city cricket already underway, the majority of associations have yet to get any financial assistance from the PCB.

These officials of the first boards have absolutely no clue as to how much the PCB or the sponsors will pass on to the six associations for carrying out activities for the season.

“We are in process of luring sponsors for the first boards. Three associations — Central, Sindh, and Southern — have already secured sponsorship while the rest of the three will be getting shortly. The PCB has already decided to have two of the representatives of sponsors in each of the first boards. Three has already got that while the rest will be having these in a due course,” the official added.

Three of the associations have got chief executives besides the chairman. However, the matter of grave concern is that these federations are facing problems when it comes to financial, administrative, and team’s selection matters. The PCB is yet to start moving through these associations when it comes to handling teams’ affairs at the city level. The PCB is directly dealing with the coaches’ appointment to look after city teams. All the coaches are directly getting dailies and other allowances without the active participation of the provincial associations. In the absence of managers, coaches are handling even financial matters without the knowledge of respective associations.

‘The News’ has also learnt that the meeting on Tuesday will also discuss the importance of having a manager with each city team, besides the stress on getting a true picture as how much amount each provincial association will be getting (through sponsors or through the PCB) to run the domestic cricket activities.

There was news that each federation will be getting around Rs400 million for the season. Later there were rumours that each of the first boards will be getting around Rs100 million to invest it back in different age groups cricket teams activities.

“We also want the associations to generate school and college level cricket activities. The discussion to that effect is also on the July 27 meeting agenda,” the PCB official said.

It is believed that the meeting discussion will revolve around devolving all the related powers to the associations rather retaining these with the PCB.