LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board’s Board of Governors is likely to approve the plan of restructuring the domestic game during its meeting being held here on Feb 8.

According to the restructuring plan, the role of country’s departmental cricket teams will end and only regional teams will compete.

Sources told Dawn that a committee working on the restructuring plan, headed by retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain who is also a BoG member, has completed its task and will present a report in this regard for approval.

As Prime Minister Imran Khan over the years has been staunchly supporting regional cricket instead of departments-based format, it is very likely that no BoG member will go against the planned restructuring of domestic cricket.

However, sources said, the BoG has to take a final decision to go with eight of six regional teams to participate in the domestic cricket.

The departments, whose teams are currently featuring in domestic tournaments, will only sponsor the regions instead of fielding their own outfits.

The less number of regional teams will ultimately make it tougher for young cricket aspirants who will have fewer opportunities to find a place in those teams. The move, however, is likely to make domestic matches more competitive, though at the cost of jobs of many cricketers who are currently playing for different departments.

Wasim Khan, the PCB managing director, a post which was created recently, will also attend the BoG meeting as he is joining the Board from Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, February 5th, 2019