ISLAMABAD, Feb 13: The Pakistan Cricket Board has failed to devise a proper strategy in its domestic cricket for relegation or promotion of departments in the Quaid-i-Azam Grade-I, II Trophy matches despite passage of few years.

An official of the board on condition of anonymity told Dawn from Lahore on Thursday that the PCB has completely failed in providing a proper solution to the departments in the elite domestic level cricket.

Nine departments and 11 regional teams will be seen in action in the upcoming elite domestic cricket season starting this month. “The PCB is discouraging the departmental cricket players as well as their owners [departments].

When there will be no promotion from grade-II to grade-I, and relegation from grade-I to grade-II this clearly indicates your [PCB’s] lack of commitment with the domestic departmental cricket teams and the players.”

In the recent past the board has often been criticized for weak domestic infrastructure – a step one for emerging players to start their journey for an entry to the national squad.

“On one hand Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has issued orders to various departments to give jobs to players while on the other the PCB seems least bothered in giving support to already active departments in sports — cricket etc.”

Some departments, the official warned, were observing the attitude of the cricket board and if continued with the same manner they may shut down their cricket team wings leaving hundreds of players jobless.

The director media of the PCB Asif Sohail when contacted to speak on the matter, pointed out: “We are working on every issue step by step as it’s hardly four months and there are number of issues which need to be addressed.”