August 10, 2007	Friday	Rajab 25, 1428

LAHORE, Aug 9: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has revoked an earlier decision on cricketers’ qualification for domestic tournaments which would have deprived many players from appearing in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy 2007-08.

PCB Director Cricket Operations, Zakir Khan confirmed that the decision had been revoked and now the regions would be allowed to also include cricketers who perform well in the Patron's Trophy Grade-II competition.

Since the PCB has decided to include Grade-I teams of both regions and departments in the forthcoming Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, those playing in the Patron's Trophy Grade-II tournament would have been deprived of appearance in the premiere first class event if the new rule had been applied.

This would have included prominent players such as Mohammad Hafeez, Misbah-ul-Haq, Asim Kamal, Shadab Kabir, Khalid Latif, Abdul Rauf and many others who would now get the opportunity to play the Quaid Trophy after PCB has revoked the decision.

Meanwhile, the PCB has also included a new clause in the central contracts which binds all contracted players to appear in the next domestic season. To ensure the presence of the contracted players, the PCB is also considering an option to hold the Quaid Trophy in the months when the Pakistan team has no international assignments at hand.