Pakistan U-19 workforce members huddle throughout a match. — PCB/File
This has been a longstanding custom in Pakistan cricket that every time a brand new chairman assumes duty on the cricket board, they have a tendency to run the board’s affairs in their very own method. The present cricket board, on the floor, seems to be in a little bit of a rush. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who earned the nickname “Mohsin Speed” for his work model throughout his stint as Punjab’s caretaker chief minister, appears eager on rushing up the sport, sometimes called the “game of gentlemen.”
The PCB chairman has added three tournaments below the identify “Champions Cup” to home cricket and assigned tasks to 5 mentors, however the core of Pakistan cricket, its Below-19 cricket, appears to be largely ignored.
From September 2024 to January 2025, the PCB organised the nation’s two largest home tournaments—the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (First-Class) and the President’s One Day Cup, together with the Regional Inter-District Senior (three-day) event.
Nevertheless, on the identical time, there was a noticeable silence within the Below-19 circuit. On September 10, 2024, the PCB abruptly halted the home Below-19 event, and since then, there was no readability on what steps the board is taking for junior-level cricket.
In the meantime, on the worldwide entrance, Pakistan’s Below-19 workforce has been lively. Nevertheless, the choice course of has not been a serious matter of dialogue, provided that the board has not even organised a home Below-19 event.
As a substitute, picks had been primarily based on previous performances or private preferences, which went largely unnoticed. The board had the justification that there was no home knowledge obtainable, so the workforce choice needed to be primarily based on older performances or a subjective course of.
In January and February 2024, Pakistan’s Below-19 workforce, led by wicketkeeper Mirza Saad Baig, participated within the ICC Below-19 World Cup in South Africa.
On February 8, 2024, within the second semi-final at Benoni, Pakistan misplaced to Australia in an exhilarating encounter by one wicket. Previous to this, Pakistan’s Below-19 workforce had misplaced to UAE by 11 runs within the first semi-final of the Below-19 Asia Cup, organised by the Asian Cricket Council within the UAE.
In November 2024, the Pakistan Below-19 workforce participated in a tri-nation sequence within the UAE alongside the host workforce and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, within the closing performed on November 26 in Dubai, Pakistan misplaced to Afghanistan by 21 runs. In December 2024, through the Below-19 Asia Cup within the UAE, Pakistan managed to achieve the semi-finals, however like within the earlier three tournaments, they failed to fulfill expectations within the massive match. This time, Bangladesh defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets within the first semi-final on December 6, 2024.
One notable facet in all these tournaments was that Pakistan confronted its conventional rival, India, twice, and on each events, Pakistan’s Below-19 workforce emerged victorious.
On December 10, 2023, through the Below-19 Asia Cup in Dubai, Pakistan received by 8 wickets. Then, once more on November 30, 2024, Pakistan beat India for the second time within the Below-19 Asia Cup.
In different phrases, whereas Pakistan’s Below-19 workforce was busy internationally, there was a obvious silence on the home Below-19 degree, which is sort of shocking.
Furthermore, there doesn’t look like a lot curiosity from the board on this regard within the coming days, which may very well be a regarding matter. Pakistan’s Below-19 cricket has certainly proven worrying indicators in latest instances.
Nevertheless, previously, Pakistan cricket has been lucky with a wealth of knowledge and gamers rising from the junior ranks into worldwide cricket. Legends like Javed Miandad, Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Ahmed Shehzad, and Babar Azam are prime examples of gamers who rose by the Below-19 ranks to play for the nationwide workforce.
If the Pakistan Cricket Board continues to miss Below-19 cricket, it could face extreme penalties sooner or later, notably by way of choice.
The difficulty of Below-19 cricket choice has already been a topic of concern inside cricketing circles, and the board’s lack of seriousness on this matter on the home degree may show to be harmful. Due to this fact, it’s essential that the PCB takes quick steps to deal with this situation and forestall the deterioration of Below-19 cricket in Pakistan.
