PCB Expands Domestic Revamping Committee

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially broadened its Domestic Revamping and Reforms Committee, increasing its membership from five to thirteen. This development follows mounting internal pushback and apprehensions concerning the proposed modifications to the domestic cricket framework.

Announced on Thursday, the inclusion of eight new members aims to incorporate a wider array of viewpoints into the ongoing reform process, as confirmed by a formal PCB notification. The committee, initially established on May 23 with a five-member composition, was tasked with presenting recommendations to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi within five working days. However, with the committee’s expansion, no revised deadline has been communicated.

Sources indicate that the original committee was set to execute a significant transformation of the domestic cricket structure, potentially decreasing the count of domestic teams from 18 (representing 16 regions) to just 9. This strategic move is intended to elevate the quality of cricket by concentrating resources on a smaller number of more competitive teams, ultimately better preparing players for the international stage.

Despite a record number of matches played in recent seasons, concerns about the overall standard of domestic cricket remain. The initial composition of the committee, which featured only one regional representative—Khawaja Nadeem—faced objections due to perceived inadequate regional representation.

In response, the revamped committee now encompasses six additional regional association presidents, many of whom also hold positions on the PCB Governing Board. This ensures a more robust representation of regional interests in the decision-making process. Furthermore, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director of Domestic Cricket, and Junaid Zia, Senior GM Domestic, who were previously under scrutiny, have been integrated into the committee. This inclusion may suggest a potential change in leadership within domestic operations.

Notably, the reform panel comprises a mix of cricket and non-cricket professionals, including former interim head coach Aaqib Javed and ex-chief selector Wahab Riaz, along with prominent PCB officials such as COO Sameer Syed and Advisor to the Chairman Bilal Afzal.