DateLine: 26th April 2008

Media Release - 26 April 2008

Pakistan Cricket Board officials in a comprehensive briefing given to the senate standing committee on sports in Islamabad revealed its performance since October 2006 along with its short and long term plans in a comprehensive manner.

While revealing the infrastructure development plan from 2007 to 2010 the CEO of PCB said that development of new 100 cricket grounds at district level, establishment of 11 regional cricket academies and up-gradation of cricket stadiums all over Pakistan will be the hallmark of PCB development plans. Pakistan Cricket Board in its detailed presentation to the senate standing committee provided province wise detail of cricket infrastructure development through out the country.

While explaining its cricket achievements in the last one and half year Pakistan Cricket Board informed the worthy senate that Pakistan team was runners up in twenty-20 world cup2007, ranked second in the twenty-20 team in the world and recorded 11 consecutive victories in one day internationals.

While giving the expansion of sponsorship detail the PCB officials said that rupees 13 million has been raised by PCB through the sponsorship for under-nineteen cricket for the first time in the history of PCB. They said that domestic cricket sponsorship worth rupees 22 million and 5 years deals of domestic TV rights worth rupees 50 million has also been achieved. PCB's asset during the current regime has been raised 4.86 billion rupees. PCB would also enhance the capacity of Rawalpindi Cricket stadium and Gaddafi stadium.

While concluding the performance, objectives and achievements of Pakistan Cricket since October 2006 the Chairman Pakistan cricket said that PCB has long term and short term objectives and to ensure that winning combination for the 2011 world cup is achieved by Pakistan and create a large talent pool of young cricketers who should serve Pakistan cricket for years to come.

PCB provided the complete detail of its financial performance, PCB income and PCB expenditures. Senator Tariq Azeem congratulated PCB for developing cricket in FATA and other parts of Pakistan.

Pakistan is the current under 15 champion; Pakistan women team for the first time in the history qualified for the world cup and Pakistan won the under-nineteen series against Australian under- nineteen in 2008.

Mr. Shafqat Nagmi CEO while briefing the senate standing committee revealed that a total of 5 million rupees have been paid to 260 regional players as monthly salary and match fee for the first time in Pakistan's cricket history. He also said that match fee of rupees 10,000/-per match has been introduced for the first time for under -nineteen cricket. He further said that credit of live coverage of first class cricket also goes to the present cricket regime as it has been revived for the first time since 1996 that has boasted the development of Pakistan cricket at grassroots.

He further added that prize money of pentangular cup and Quaid-i-Azam trophy has been increased from 2 lakh to 1.5 million per tournament. He said that PCB has incorporated regional associations for running their affairs and for development of cricket at grassroots and rupees 36 million out of the gate money has been given to regional associations to run their affairs.

Earlier Dr. Nasim Ashraf Chairman PCB revealed the strategies of Pakistan cricket team building for ICC championship and National team for 2011 world cup. He said that PCB has now given defined pathway cricket development starting from club and school cricket to district, under nineteen/grade A cricket, first class cricket including regions and institutions and the national team. He also elaborated PCB interventions at school and club level for the creation of future champions. He further said that PCB carried out its phase 1 talent management in 52 different locations all over Pakistan and short listed over 800 players for regional trials. In the phase 2 of talent management program of PCB a six week coaching camp was held at NCA to select Pakistan under sixteen and under fifteen teams for the World Cup.

Mr. Shafaqat Nagmi the CEO of Pakistan Cricket Board said that specialized coaching camps were organized by PCB for the development of spinners, wicket keepers, fast bowlers and opening batsmen in which players of international fame and repute like Wasim Akram, Aaqib Javed , Mudassar Nazar and Ijaz Ahmed participated. This entire effort of PCB in last one and half year has resulted in producing young players like Sohail Tanvir, Nasir Jamshaid and Sohail Khan etc whose performance has been lauded internationally.

Media Department

(Article: Copyright © 2008 Pakistan Cricket Board)