Akmal believes department cricket’s end will be disastrous for Pakistan cricket

Pakistan wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal has voiced his disapproval over the end of departmental cricket, saying that the Pakistan cricket would bear the brunt of this decision in the near future.

“I am really disappointed over the end of department cricket, all the great players have come from departmental cricket. It is sad that a lot of cricketers have lost their livelihood,” said Akmal, in a video message.

“We would need to see whether the upcoming system would be successful or not, even if it is a success one could not forget that a number of cricketers have lost their jobs, and in the coming days I believe Pakistan cricket would suffer a lot,” he added.

Just days ago, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) introduced their latest domestic cricket structure under which the 16 regions have been merged into six associations, namely Balochistan, Sindh, Southern Punjab, Central Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Northern.

Akmal said that the cricketing authorities should have run the department cricket for further one or two years giving time for the new domestic structure to stabilise. “Taking the decision hastily is not good for Pakistan cricket.”

A number of measures were introduced in the new domestic structure i.e. dividing the domestic structure into three tiers, introduction of Kookaburra balls from Dukes at the first-class level and increase players remuneration.