Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and Mohammad Abbas asked to cut short county stints

Published August 8, 2019
Dawn learnt that every player who wants to be eligible for Pakistan selection has to appear in the domestic event. — AFP/File
Dawn learnt that every player who wants to be eligible for Pakistan selection has to appear in the domestic event. — AFP/File

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has instructed three key players — Azhar Ali, Babar Azam and Mohammad Abbas — to return from England, where they are currently playing county cricket, and make themselves available for the revamped Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, which starts from Sept 12

Dawn learnt that every player who wants to be eligible for Pakistan selection has to appear in the domestic event so he is considered for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in October. That’s why Azhar, Babar and Abbas have been instructed to cut short their stints with their respective counties.

The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy — in which six provincial teams will be featuring —will be held on a double-league basis in two parts.

The details about the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and six newly-formed provincial cricket associations/bodies are expected to be announced shortly by the PCB. In the first phase, the PCB is forming the six provincial cricket associations on interim basis for one year and later these bodies will come through the election process. The new system will change the existing 16-region format.

During the break in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, the PCB plans to start the National T20 Cup to provide opportunities to the six Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises to pick players for the fifth edition through a draft ceremony in November.

The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy will restart to enable the national selectors to pick the national side for the Test series against Bangladesh.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Islamabad march
Updated 27 Nov, 2024

Islamabad march

WITH emotions running high, chaos closes in. As these words were being written, rumours and speculation were all...
Policing the internet
27 Nov, 2024

Policing the internet

IT is chilling to witness how Pakistan — a nation that embraced the freedoms of modern democracy, and the tech ...
Correcting sports priorities
27 Nov, 2024

Correcting sports priorities

IT has been a lingering battle that has cast a shadow over sports in Pakistan: who are the national sports...
Kurram ceasefire
Updated 26 Nov, 2024

Kurram ceasefire

DESPITE efforts by the KP government to bring about a ceasefire in Kurram tribal district, the bloodletting has...
Hollow victory
26 Nov, 2024

Hollow victory

THE conclusion of COP29 in Baku has left developing nations — struggling with the mounting costs of climate...
Infrastructure schemes
26 Nov, 2024

Infrastructure schemes

THE government’s decision to finance priority PSDP schemes on a three-year rolling basis is a significant step...