June 26, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424

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LAHORE,  July 25: Forty-one schools have been affiliated  with as many clubs under the PCB-School-Club Cricket programme which is being launched in Lahore only.

At a press briefing on Wednesday, PCB chief executive Ramiz Raja said that there was a plan to involve 110 schools in this programme and added the remaining will hopefully be included phase wise. He said that soon more 20 schools would be included in this programme as PCB had been receiving extensive requests from different schools.

He admitted that Pakistan was not producing quality batsmen in good number for which the slow pitches in the country  was a vital reason. And to remove the dearth in this department, mat would be provided to those clubs having cemented pitches.

He said that after the mat that pitches would give extra bounce to help the batsmen improve their skill for the bouncy track.

Ramiz said that the clubs will provide their ground once a  week to the school team.

He said that PCB had renovated the Iqbal Parks grounds where 16 to 17 nets could be conducted at one time.

The cricketers of the schools will be provided balls, kits and other necessary gears. A total cost of this programme would raise to  Rs 3.5 million if all the 110 schools are included in the  programme.