New domestic structure will be competitive: Sarfaraz

• Wicketkeeper says, boys will work hard and they have to give their 100 percent in order to make it to the provincial teams.
• I think this is a good combination; junior and senior players are playing together, says Pakistan captain.
• Match between Balochistan and Sindh will start from September 14 at UBL Sports Complex

Pakistan skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed backing Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)’s newly introduced domestic structure said it would increase competition and attract more cricketers.

"Competition will increase and boys will work hard and they have to give their 100 percent in order to make it to the provincial teams," Sarfaraz said in a press conference at the National Stadium ahead of their opening Quaid-e-Azam trophy match against Balochistan starting from September 14 at the UBL Sports Complex. The game is part of the first round of matches in the four-day first-class Quaid-i-Azam Trophy.

The 31-year-old, who is leading Sindh team, added that domestic teams include both national and international cricket stars of Pakistan as well as those who will play for the country in the future.

"I think this is a good combination; junior and senior players are playing together."

Earlier this month, the board had unveiled a new domestic cricket structure. Under this procedure inter-club cricket of each city will form a team which will compete in the inter-city championship.

The best players of the second tier will form the respective provincial teams to compete in first-class events of all three formats from which Pakistan teams will be picked.

Commenting on upcoming Sri Lanka’s tour of Pakistan, he said Pakistan could only request the Sri Lankan team to tour the country and added that in the last few years, foreign players had been provided foolproof security.

"Events have taken place over the past few years and there have been no security issues," he said.

The wicketkeeper added, “Pakistan has always supported other countries by touring. Recently, Pakistan sent its junior team to Sri Lanka a couple of weeks after [the Easter bombings] took place."

Islanders are scheduled to tour Pakistan for three ODIs and three T20I matches from September 27 to October 19. The tour is now shadowed with doubt as the Sri Lanka cricket board yesterday said it had received a terror attack warning and had been advised to “reassess the situation”.

Speaking about the appointments of former captain Misbahul Haq as head coach and Waqar Younis as bowling coach, Ahmed said that both former players had "always supported the team and will continue to do so".

Meanwhile, Opener Imran Farhat also hailed PCB’s decision to introduce new domestic structure. He thinks that players will now have more opportunity to showcase their talent and make their way into national squad.

“I think, what I like most was the selection for the team. That has been made on merit. It would be a great opportunity for the upcoming cricketers to showcase their talent at the domestic level and earn their way to national squad.”

He also appreciated the board for increasing wages in its new domestic structure. “Now more youngsters will incline towards the game because of attractive salaries. It will not only help them to maintain their fitness but also they will be in a good position to support their families.”