LAHORE: The President’s Cup begins on Wednesday, marking the return to 50-over cricket for departments following the restoration of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s constitution of 2014.

Matches of the round-robin stage will be held in Abbottabad and Rawalpindi but the PCB received a lukewarm response with just seven teams deciding to take part after the implementation of PCB’s constitution of 2019 having forced the closure of departments.

The same seven teams had earlier played the four-day feature of the same event with Sui Nor­thern Gas Pipelines Limited having won the event.

Before the 2019 constitution came into force, eight teams had traditionally taken part in the one-day tournament but despite departmental sport having been restored, only seven institutions showed interest in rebuilding their teams.

Among them, Ghani Glass and Higher Education Commission were promoted from Grade II. The other teams taking part include SNGPL, Pakistan Television, State Bank of Pakistan, Wapda and Khan Research Laboratories.

The top four finishers after the round-robin stage will advance to the semi-finals; the venues for which will be announced closer to the matches, said the PCB.

“Following the successful staging of the first-class tournament, the upcoming limited overs tournament marks a positive step in the smooth return and rehabilitation of departmental cricket, which should be welcomed by everyone,” PCB’s domestic cricket operations director Abdullah Khurram Niazi said in a news release.

“The return of department cricket aligns with the PCB Chairman’s policy of reinvigorating domestic cricket across the country, which will lead to more opportunities for younger players and a greater likelihood of new talent emerging.”—

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2024