Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board is seriously considering ending the decades old structure of commercial departments and banks participating in its domestic cricket competition.
PCB officials confirmed that serious consideration was being given to relegating departments and banks to only playing the non-first class grade-two competitions in domestic cricket.
"Yes. Such a proposal is under consideration because there is a strong argument that new talent is not emerging in Pakistan because instead of regional and grassroots cricket, departmental cricket has dominated the domestic structure in the last few decades," one official said.
Former captain Imran Khan has been one of the most vocal supporters of this radical change.
Imran has been a vocal opponent of departments and banks being allowed to play in the domestic cricket season with other former players also backing his arguments.
The irony is that Imran and many of the stars of recent years are all by-products of departmental cricket.
The role of departments and banks for long has been a raging debate in Pakistan cricket but everytime this issue has come up, the board has always backed off at the last moment.
"But this time Dr Ashraf is serious and wants to see positive changes in our domestic cricket. There is no bluffing this time," one board official said.
Departments and banks have been an integral part of Pakistan cricket since the 1960's and have provided employment to hundreds of established and young players.
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