Why Pakistan Cricket has hit rock bottom – the fall and a possible resurgence (Part 5)
Tauqir Zia also successfully created regional cricket associations and gave them the rights to host ODI’s with 70% of the earnings from the matches going to the regional board, while 30% of it making its
way back to the PCB. This way, the regional associations had funds at their disposal to allocate to develop and maintain various sporting facilities in their respective areas.
By decentralizing authority, Tauqir Zia did a massive favour to Pakistan cricket as the regional associations were responsible for the control, management, regulation and development of the game along
with the responsibility of making rules and regulations considered essential for the functioning of the District Cricket Associations.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Imran-c64193 Khan’s suggestion could further be improvised as well, and a hybrid could be created as is being done in India at present with a regional trophy conducted on a regular basis with corporate backing
where the corporation or individual stake holders could have international players playing at the regional level. These corporations will not only ensure that the players get adequate coaching but will also aim to maintain a certain level of competence for
their own teams.
If corporations or individuals are allowed to have a stake in the franchise of a particular regional team, they will also ensure that their team does well in the tournament. These teams can then be allowed
to have a particular stadium as their home, which will make the contest between different sides competing against each other even more competitive. The corporations or individuals can have television rights for the matches being played at their home grounds,
so effectively they will be earning greater revenues. The greater revenue will then result in the corporations seeking better players to play for their sides. The domestic cricketers will hence be paid better, and will gain invaluable experience from the international
players playing in the side.
Not only that, but this will be a great opportunity for cricket diplomacy between arch rivals http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 and Pakistan. Imagine Suresh Raina playing for the Lahore Lions, or imagine Graeme Swann or maybe Shakib
Al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990 playing for one of the regional sides. It certainly will have a huge impact; a positive one. The crowds will love him playing for their home side and this step will eventually result in the creation of some much needed goodwill between the two countries.
To avoid teams from regions other than Karachi and Lahore fading into oblivion they could be given an opportunity to pick players from club cricket before the bigger cities do. Naturally teams from Karachi
and Lahore will still be able to make more money due to a higher viewer base and hence it will be fair to the smaller teams to be allowed to pick players before the bigger teams.
There are almost 170 million people in Pakistan. Almost 80% of them are cricket fanatics. That is a potential viewer base of 136 million people. Just imagine the amount of potential cricket has in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
The PCB by strengthening its domestic cricket structure can earn serious cash that can then be utilized to strengthen the domestic cricket structure in the country. Imagine the Lahore Sherdils (Lionhearts)
owned by the Saigol Family, playing against the Karachi Shaheens (falcons) owned by the Habib Group of companies in floodlights at the Sherdil Stadium (formerly the Qaddafi stadium) in the final of a super series, with Suresh Raina opening the batting for
the Sherdils, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dale-c52110 Steyn opening the bowling attack for the Karachi Shaheens.
By allowing Mr. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ijaz-Butt-c64128 to continue as the chairman, the current political setup is doing themselves and the nation a great disfavour. For this is an entire industry, that is currently being ignored.
The PCB could turn into a great force in the ICC if it formulates and implements a strong domestic structure that is a hybrid between the corporate and regional teams.
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