‘Will discuss leagues’ impact on international cricket in ICC Meeting’ Faisal
LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Faisal Hasnain confirmed on Saturday that the cricket board will request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to form a committee on the impact of leagues on international cricket.
In a video statement, shared on official social media platforms, Faisal revealed the PCB’s agenda for the upcoming ICC Annual Conference and confirmed that the board will request the ICC to take action on the decline of international cricket due to the expansion of the T20 franchise. leagues from all over the world.
“Due to the rapid expansion of the national T20 franchise leagues, new leagues are springing up roughly every two to three months. Due to this proliferation, there is less time for international cricket, which is what the PCB is most concerned about,” Faisal said.
“We want the ICC to discuss the proliferation of franchise leagues, which are shortening the time for international cricket. We also sent a proposal to the ICC and asked them to put it on their agenda and two other boards also asked the ICC to form a working committee on the issue,” he added.
The PCB Director General also emphasized the importance of the upcoming meeting as he revealed that the ICC’s Future Tour Program (FTP) for the next four to eight years will also be finalized at the meeting.
“This meeting is very important for the preparation of the next Future Tours Program (FTP). It will give us certainty if we know who we are going to play in the next four or eight years,” he said.
Speaking about the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, Faisal stated that Pakistan wants the continental event to be held in Sri Lanka, as per initial plans, as the Green Shirts are in the crisis-hit country for the two-match test series, while at the same time he assured to support the decision of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
“Pakistan wants the Asian Cup to be held in Sri Lanka. After the successful series in Australia, now our team is also present in Sri Lanka for the two match test series. However, the final decision on the venue of the tournament will be made by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). We have already spoken with the ACC officials, they are reviewing the situation and we will accept their decision,” Faisal said.
Faisal then discussed the proposal for the four and three nation series made by PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja. He confirmed that the agenda is still on the table and assured that although not formally at the meeting, PCB representatives will discuss the issue with the cricket boards on the sidelines.
“The four-nation series proposal, presented by President [Ramiz], is still on the table. Even if it is not officially at the board meeting, it will surely be discussed on the sidelines,” she said.
“We are not the only ones to propose the idea of a multi-national series, Australia, on the other hand, also expressed its willingness to host a tri-national series.
So, surely we will be discussing this matter at the meeting,” he concluded.
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