Friday at the National High-Performance Center, the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Management Committee held its first meeting under the leadership of Najam Sethi, the organization’s recently elected chairman.
Following a thorough update on the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 8, the PCB Management Committee decided to make Quetta the fifth venue for the eighth iteration of the PCB’s annual event, which is slated to take place from 13 February to 19 March.
The Committee decided that while separate discussions would take place between PCB security experts and local authorities to ensure the safety and security of all participants, officials, and spectators, PCB would work closely with the local administration to upgrade and renovate the Bugti Stadium in order to ensure that the Stadium will be ready to host the HBL PSL 8 matches.
Najam Sethi conveyed his feelings when speaking to the committee and designated Bugti Stadium in Quetta as the fifth location. The Quetta Gladiators play their home games at Bugti Stadium, and we will never forget the amazing sights that occurred when they came to town after winning the 2019 title.
“The passionate cricket fans of Quetta have been waiting for a long to watch high-profile cricket in their backyard and I am pleased that we will now bring HBL PSL matches to their doors. In this relation, I have already spoken with influential officials in the Balochistan province, who have assured me of their complete support from event delivery perspectives,” he stated.
The Committee also discussed Peshawar as a potential location for hosting HBL PSL and international matches, and it was decided that matches would be held there provided there were no restrictions placed by the provincial and federal governments and the stadium had facilities of an international standard for cricket, broadcast, spectators, and media.
The Women’s League was also the subject of the first deliberations by the Management Committee; further conversations will follow.
In accordance with the PCB Constitution 2014, the domestic cricket structure was also discussed during the meeting. It was decided to postpone the Pakistan Cup till 3 January in order to protect the players and the competition.
On the domestic structure, which mirrors the PCB Constitution 2014, it was agreed Mr Najam Sethi, Mr Shakil Sheikh, and Mr Haroon Rashid will prepare the first draft, which will be shared with the Committee for further discussions.
