Highlights since July 2023

Chairman PCB Management Committee, Mr Zaka Ashraf succeeded in restoring the structure of domestic cricket in accordance with 2014 PCB constitution. The latest domestic season is set to bring more competition and quality cricket with enhanced earning opportunities as eight regional sides and eight department teams will be competing in separate first-class tournaments. This will ensure that the regions and departments play on a level playing field by utilising the best available talent.

This year saw the Pakistan Shaheens clinch victory at ACC Emerging Teams Cup. Pakistan Shaheens defeated India A by 128 runs in the final to claim the title. Pakistan also reined victorious in their Test tour of Sri Lanka winning their first Test series since November 2021.

The PCB appointed former cricketers in the selection process and key management roles. The board appointed veteran cricketer Inzamam-ul-Haq as Chairman Selection Committee. Former captains Mohammad Hafeez and Misbah-ul-Haq were also involved in the process of restoring domestic structure as part of their roles in the Cricket Technical Committee.

Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf met former cricketer Sarfraz Nawaz and resolved the outstanding matters over his unpaid ex gratia payments since January 2017. The Chairman PCB Management Committee reinforced the board's commitment to former players who he felt under no circumstances should be left neglected.

In a tribute to one of the pioneers of the early era of Pakistan cricket, the PCB named the grade-II four-day tournament as Hanif Mohammad Trophy to be contested by 10 regional teams from the 2023-24 domestic season. This was another step by the PCB to honour and recognise the services of the legends of the game, and ensure that their efforts continue to be remembered.

Out of 90, 74 women cricketers were awarded 11-month domestic contracts, the first of its kind in in women’s cricket. Among the 74 players, 59 players belong to emerging U19 categories while 14 players have already represented the Pakistan women’s team at the senior level. The contracts were conferred on players who had displayed remarkable performances in the domestic, U19 and international levels.

As many as 360 cricketers representing 18 regional teams were offered domestic cricket contracts for the 2023-24 season. The structure, which is divided into seven categories, offers players enhanced earning opportunities because of the inclusion of department teams. Players have been awarded domestic contracts that include 20 players from category A+, 30 in category A, 30 in category B, 30 in category C, and 30 in category D, 50 in category E, and 170 slotted in category F.

Pakistan men’s cricket team regained the No.1 spot in the ICC ODI rankings after claiming a 3-0 series whitewash over Afghanistan in August 2023. Pakistan had earlier surged to the No.1 spot on 5 May 2023 for the first time after earning a 4-0 lead over New Zealand in the five-match series but lost the top ranking following a defeat in the final game.

Pakistan successfully hosted the first multi-nation tournament on home soil since the 2008 Asia Cup after staging four Asia Cup matches in Lahore and Multan. Pakistan had the privilege of holding the glitzy Asia Cup opening ceremony at Multan Cricket Stadium, featuring fireworks and performances from renowned artist Aima Baig and Nepal singer Trishala Gurung.

20 women's players were awarded central contracts for a duration of 23 months, commencing 1 August 2023 to 30 June 2025. There was a maximum of 32 per cent increase in the monthly retainers of the players, 100 per cent increase in match fees in ODI format and 50 per cent increase in T20I format. Four players were given contracts for the first time.

Pakistan Women secured a remarkable 3-0 T20I series win over South Africa in Karachi. They became the first Asian team to complete a whitewash over South Africa Women in T20Is. Pakistan’s victory was built around a team effort under the leadership of Nida Dar, playing her first series as full-time captain of the side. This marked the fourth time that Pakistan Women completed a 3-0 series whitewash in a bilateral series.

Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf took a positive step in improving ties with the Board of Cricket Control of India (BCCI) by welcoming BCCI President Roger Binny and Vice-President Rajeev Shukla to Lahore during Asia Cup 2023 and hosted them at the Governor’s House in Lahore.

The PCB has strengthened relationships with the government of Pakistan, resolving several outstanding issues and reaching consensus on matters of mutual interest. Pakistan Cricket Board Management Committee Chairman Mr Zaka Ashraf also met with Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi at National Cricket Academy, where the latter reiterated full support to the PCB for the promotion of sports activities, including cricket, in the country.

The PCB implemented an unprecedented increase in the men's central contracts. The PCB successfully negotiated a three-year central contract deal with the players that will run from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026. After reviewing the contracts list finalised by the Najam Sethi-led management committee, new management committee under its chairman Mr Zaka Ashraf decided to add five more players to the list. As per the new contracts list, as many as 30 cricketers were offered a momentous deal which includes a portion of ICC revenue. The players have been divided into four categories with significant increases in monthly retainers; 202% for Category A (3 players), 144% for Category B (8 players), 135% for Category C (4 players) and 127% for Category D (15 players).

Mr Zaka Ashraf, Chairman Management Committee PCB, hosted Pakistan Blind Cricket team at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to honour the team winning Gold medal at the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) World Games 2023, held in Birmingham. In recognition of their remarkable success, Mr Zaka Ashraf, presented the team with cash prizes as a token of appreciation and encouragement for their continued dedication to the sport.

The Pakistan Cricket Board arranged a one-day cricket activity at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to encourage representative of all sections of our diverse Pakistani society to pick up the game. The activity aimed to provide an opportunity for promising young players to hone their skills, receive coaching from renowned coaches, and experience the facilities available to top cricketers of Pakistan.

Sri Lanka U19 team toured Pakistan to play one four-day match and a five-match one-day series from 15 to 31 October 2023 at National Bank Stadium, Karachi. Saad Baig-led Pakistan U19 defeated the visitors by nine wickets in the four-day game while Sri Lanka U19, captained by Sineth Jayawardene, clinched the one-day series 3-2.

Pakistan Women A hosted West Indies Women A and Thailand Women Emerging in Lahore for bilateral fixtures against the two teams and a T20 tri-nation series. The matches took place at two venues in Lahore – Ghani Glass Institute and Gaddafi Stadium – from 24 October to 11 November. Pakistan Women A first played a three-match one-day series against West Indies Women A, which the visitors won by a margin of 2-1. The T20 tri-series was won by Pakistan Women A, who defeated West Indies Women A in the final by eight wickets. Shawaal Zulfiqar was named player of the series for leading the batting charts. Pakistan Women A then swept the two-match T20 series against Thailand Women Emerging with Omaima Sohail bagging the player of the match award in both games.

Major changes were made to the team managements of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, the national U19 team and their respective selection committees. Former Pakistan Test captain Mohammad Hafeez was appointed as Director of the men’s team. This appointment comes after fast bowler Wahab Riaz was made the chief selector of the national men’s selection committee. Members of the 2009 T20 World Cup and 2012 Asia Cup winning squad Umar Gul and Saeed Ajmal were appointed as the fast bowling and spin bowling coaches respectively, for the senior Pakistan Men’s Team. Former Test Captain Mohammad Yousuf was appointed as the head coach of Pakistan U19. Yousuf had previously served as batting coach of the Pakistan men’s team and at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Another member of the 2009 T20 World Cup winning squad, Sohail Tanvir was appointed as head of the junior selection committee. Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum were appointed as consultant members of the men’s selection committee.

Chairman PCB Management Committee, Mr Zaka Ashraf awarded a cash prize of PKR 3.6 million to the Pakistan Wheelchair team that became champions of the T20 Wheelchair Cricket Asia Cup 2023 held in Nepal. PCB hosted a reception in honour of the Pakistan Wheelchair cricket team at Gaddafi Stadium where the Chairman PCB Management Committee praised their achievement.

Pakistan women’s cricket team in New Zealand created history when they defeated the hosts in the three-match T20I series 2-1, becoming the first Asian side to defeat the White Ferns in their own backyard in this format. In the three-match ODI series, Pakistan women won the third ODI in the super over – their first win in an ODI over New Zealand in New Zealand, while they came close to clinching the second ODI, losing by one wicket. In the T20I series, right-arm fast bowler Fatima Sana bagged six wickets and was declared player of the series. In the batting department, Muneeba Ali was the star performer for the side, scoring 85 runs from three outings, including 12 fours. Fatima, standing in as captain in place of injured Nida Dar, almost took her side to victory in the second ODI, contributing an unbeaten 90 with the bat and taking two wickets with the ball. In the third ODI, Bismah Maroof’s vital 68 helped her bag the player of the match award. Sidra Amin was the top run-getter for Pakistan, scoring 141 runs in the series, including a century in the first ODI. Among bowlers, Ghulam Fatima took six wickets with best bowling figures of four for 47.

The PCB signed the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosting rights agreement with the ICC in Dubai. Chairman PCB Management Committee Mr Zaka Ashraf was joined by ICC General Counsel Jonathan Hall in the signing of the hosting rights to Pakistan at the ICC headquarters.