LAHORE:Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ramiz Raja has said that Pakistan Junior League (PJL) is a unique opportunity for young cricketers to learn from the mentors like Javed Miandad, Vivian Richards, Shahid Afridi, Imran Tahir, Darren Sammy, Colin Munro and Shoaib Malik.
“Just imagine the learning process for these young cricketers who will share the dug-out with cricket icons and international talent and it will do a great deal of good for their future careers,” he said, addressing a press conference during the launch of PJL draft at a local hotel on Thursday.
PJL will be played from October 6 – October 16 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and the PCB expects it to a trend-setter.
Ramiz Raja elaborated that junior cricket is a future project to be run professionally and it is hoped to produce future champions who has learnt from the experience of their mentors, achieved better game awareness from their presence and gained confidence by leading international talent on the cricket field. He said the effort was to establish continuity of the age cricket (pathway cricket) so that the budding cricketers should take cricket as a profession.
He said, “The PJL will benefit our generations, produce future stars, and address the problem of trained supply chain,” adding that Pakistan cricket had faced the problem of good replacements and these youngsters can be groomed into champions by investing on them in these impressionable years.
The Chairman PCB dispelled the impression that luke-warm response of the investors forced the PCB to own the league, adding that the bidders were there but the PCB decided to own it for the year to evaluate its positives and challenges. He said the PCB had made promises with the other cricket boards besides parents of many boys from abroad are accompanying them and that is why it wanted to govern it for the first year.
However, Ramiz said the PJL will be offered to the investors soon after the final of the PJL 1, adding that six bidders had already been shortlisted by the PCB.
He said, “PJL will give us international rather than territorial supremacy, adding that he wanted to name it World Junior League as it involved 150 young players from almost all parts of the world and it will be made internally viable.
Ramiz said PJL is a professional league and the young cricketers will be paid fair amount of money, adding that many sport in Pakistan have become extinct because there was no money for children in them. He said the money will make these young cricketers financially self-sufficient at a tender age.
Ramiz, to a question, said the PCB will follow the protocols and launch protest before the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the hooliganism at the end of the Pakistan – Afghanistan tie in the Super Four stage of the T20 Asia Cup in Sharjah. He said PCB own its fans and any thing could happen on the eve, adding that the Pakistan team could have been in danger. He said “Hooliganism is not identified with cricket and cricket abhors such atmosphere”, he said, adding, “We will show our frustration and anguish as the visuals were gruesome.”
To another query, he said it was not commercially viable to launch a 3-day league instead of a T20 competition, adding that T20 is a commercial reality and it synchs great with the next generation. He said PJL is about meeting the icons, hard training and the mental toughness, asking to imagine the impact PJL will have on the game of the age group cricketers.
He dispelled the impression that the T20 PJL will have adverse effect on the quality of games of youngsters, adding had T20 been a bad effect, it would not have been part of the ICC calendar. “T20 is a commercial reality which does loads of good to your skill-work”, he responded, adding that it has larger viewership and a reality.
On the Shaheen Shah Afridi’s rehab in England and fitness issues of some cricketers, the PCB Chairman announced to establish the world’s best rehab center at the National High Performance Center (NHPC) Gaddafi stadium as soon as the team returns from UAE, adding that latest fitness machines will be procured while services of the best doctors hired, and the PCB’s rehab center will help other sports as well.
He said Shaheen’s injury was not caused by excessive cricket but due to dive, adding that cramps may occur in UAE as it is non-cricket season in the emirates.
Ramiz said cramps to athletes were unforgivable in today’s cricket, adding that the PCB medical team will be made accountable.
He said the PSL franchises have been offered a hybrid model which is based on auction and draft system equally, adding that decision will be taken soon as the suggestion are awaited.
On department cricket, he said, “The ball is in department’s court as the departments are to open first and then the PCB will take decision on it.”
To a query, he said the pathway cricket is worth if it produces 6-7 international cricketers, adding that pathway cricket is on the right path to produce such cricketers. He hailed sponsors Engro and others for sponsoring Pathway cricket.
On Babar Azam’s form, he said that Babar is a great performer and will regain form and do well in the final against Sri Lanka, adding, T20 is a fast forward and relentless type of format and it takes its toll. “I asked him not to think he is out of form,” he added.
He said the idea of drop-in pitches was still in on the cards, adding that he did not want to have the blame of perform poorly during away tours to Australia.