Revival of Domestic Cricket in Pakistan

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

After the recent , drama with Federation of International Cricketers' Associations (FICA) an organization whose status should be rejected by Pakistan I mean who the f is FICA ?


It is very clear that Pakistan have to proceed to really focus on Domestic Cricket System and make it popular Locally so it attracts necessary sponsors and domestic population to view it in stadiums or view it via TV in high numbers.


Step 1: T20 Laegue generates sufficient viewership and generate good amount of funds nationally in country of 180 Million people nation wide and perhaps up to 10-100 million world wide.

Step 2:

We need to Decide on Test or ODI league format to promote domestically


Division 1 Plays 8 months

• 8 Regional City Teams (Central Contracted , draft system for teams)

• 2 From Punjab (30 Senior players and 14 Youth Players per team) Lahore/Multan
• 2 From Sindh (30 Senior players and 14 Youth Players per team) Karachi / Hyderabad
• 1 From Baluchistan (15 Senior players and 7 Youth Players per team) Quetta
• 1 from KPK (15 Senior players and 7 Youth Players per team) Peshawar
• 1 from Federal Capital (15 Senior players and 7 Youth Players per team) Islamabad
• 1 from Gilgit/Kashmir (15 Senior players and 7 Youth Players per team) Gilgit

• Games played Afternoon / Evening
  
• Days played Monday/ Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday - Friday (Maximum viewership)

• 100 Professional Trainer Contracts hire best trainers world wide for these teams (12 trainers per team)
• Play Test with colored kits

• Make it Mandatory for all Pakistani National Team players to play Cricket with these Teams all players who get a "CENTRAL CONTRACT"
• When players are called for International Tour , then Youth players fill the spots domestically

Division 2 : Departmental Cricket

• 14 Departmental Teams (None Pro Players) departments pay salaries to workers
  
• Players from this League can be called up to get Pro Player by means of an offer

I think the purpose of the League should be entertainment to public , and less focus on International Teams coming to Pakistan. There is enough talent locally that can attract local audience to the staidums


Instead of million regional cups / and tournaments it would make sense to have

• 2 Leagues (Division 1 Pakistan League Title , Division 2 Shield )
  
• 1 Pakistan Cup (Division 1 / Division 2 ) 22-24 teams knock out Tournament
• Regional tournament / cups (Considered ameture cricket none pro)

There is no point to lavish millions on West Indians or any other player if they can't commit to play inside Pakistan, T20 since it takes place in UAE.

Emphasis should be on increasing TV viewer ship of the regional domestic game. There should be a huge effort to make local players more "Prominent" more coverage by Media and sports magzines or sports writers

• Effort for Sponsors 50-100 Million Dollar range USD budget
  
• Centrally Contracted Salaries
  
• Weekly Coverage of Talent & Teams , on all Local Channels of Pakistan (Media / Communication professionalism)

Emphasis should be such that every Thursday/Friday , local communities would take their families to Local Cricket ground to watch Regional Team , as it has International players playing

• All Pakistan International Players and Youth Team players should be commited to this goal and there should be sufficient marketing effort to promote games and "STARS" on teams

#1 Factor why most people don't invest in Domestic cricket is they do not know enough who is playing in these teams or when these teams play , it is all about Proper Marketing

The franchise model worked well with logos and songs and then continuous coverage of players in teams and talent , all franchises should be leased for these league by PCB


The lessons learned from T20 PSL league should be applied to Domestic Test League and 1 Knock out Cup


Presently Pakistani domestic teams have funny names like blues or reds or purple and as Pakistani I hardly know any local player , there is 0% coverage of which talent is emerging or shows to cover domestic league

• Also HD cameras and Professional Production of Events is needed so local domestic shows can be made so people can relate to what they watch

PCB successfully did all the above with T20 in UAE no reason why the same approach cann't be done with Domestic System


> We need to Inject MONEY
> Latest approaches in coverage of talent and Teams (Hire professional sports production Team)
> Catchy names and Media power behind it , more coverage on local players


Watching Domestic ODI/Test with FULL stadium is better entertainment then empty UAE stadium