LAHORE, Dec 10: The Pakistan Cricket Board Eleven (PCB XI), has been withdrawn from the forthcoming

Quaid-i-Azam Trophy scheduled to be held from Dec 21 to Feb 10.

In all 25 teams comprising 14 associations, 10 departments and PCB XI, were to take part, but now the number of teams have been reduced to 24.

“Since a combined tournament is being played this year and a Pakistan “A” team is to tour Sharjah in January, there are hardly any good players available, so instead of fielding a substandard team in a tournament which we hope would be highly competitive, the PCB has decided to withdraw the team and make it a 24-team competition,” acting director Zakir Khan said.

The  PCB cricket management committee also decided  to introduce pre-quarterfinals and quarterfinals in this seasons’s tournament.

“The objective behind introducing pre-quarterfinals and the quarterfinals is to give an equal opportunity to the weaker teams, and at least, an additional match and an opportunity to move forward in the tournament,” Zakir added.

Two bottom teams of associations will be relegated to Cornelius Trophy for the 2003-2004 season while one bottom team of departments will be relegated to Kardar Trophy.

Eight  top associations and as many  departments  will participate in the Patron’s Cup one-day tournament. In order to decide the top team of associations, a separate points table for associations and departments will be maintained.

The revised groups are:

Group-I: National Bank, Sargodha, Wapda, Service Industries, Lahore Blues, Faisalabad.

Group-II: Allied Bank, Bahawalpur, Karachi Whites, Pak PWD, Multan and Dadu.

Group-III: Habib Bank, Customs, Lahore Whites, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala and Sialkot.

Group-IV: Pakistan International Airlines, KRL,  Karachi Blues, Peshawar, ADBP, Rawalpindi.