Misbah, Latif join key PCB expert panel

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formed a three-member independent panel of experts to review and finalise the six cricket association sides, which will participate in the upcoming domestic cricket season 2019-20.

The three-member panel comprises of former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Rashid Latif and Nadeem Khan which will meet at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

“The PCB has constituted a panel of highly respected cricketers to assess and review the balance, composition and strength of the six sides to ensure there remain no gaps,” PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said in a PCB statement.

The independent panel will finalise 32 players for each association – who will be offered domestic contracts by the PCB for a 12-month period. The panel would also recommend names of the captains for the first and second XIs.

Pakistan former captain and wicketkeeper Rashid Latif thanked the board for the opportunity and was of the view that a strong domestic structure is the only way to bring us on par with international cricket.

“We all need to see a highly competitive and strong domestic cricket structure, in which there should be cut-throat competition. This is the only way we will be able to narrow the gap with international cricket and, in this relation, selection of players and team combinations is a critical element to that objective,” said Latif.

The cricket associations will participate in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class competition, National T20 Cup and Pakistan Cup One-Day Tournament. The 2019-20 season will run from 12 September to 24 April.