LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday claimed that the response from the club owners for the registration of their clubs is very positive and encouraging saying 1,362 applications have been received so far, which are presently being reviewed by the board.
With still two days remaining, the PCB has agreed to extend the deadline for club registration to April 8. The decision to extend the deadline has been taken following requests from a large number of club owners, who are in the process of completing their requirements, as well as on the basis that in the past four days 862 applications have been received online, the PCB spokesman said.
This sizeable number of applications submitted in the past four days is attributed to the PCB officials’ meetings with various club delegations from different parts of the country. In these meetings, the club owners sought clarity and explanation on the first registration process as well as some articles of the model constitution, he added.
In the next phase of the registration process, the presidents of successful clubs will receive another online link on their registered email address through which they will be able to submit further information relating to membership and players categories.
On the other hand, many club owners and especially former Sialkot Region Cricket Association President Malik Zulfiqar and his allies have announced to boycott the PCB’s club registration process.
Malik said they are in consultation with their lawyers about the registration and security process which is unconstitutional, he said. The major concern is that the system, which is being introduced, is not for everyone but for a few select and influential, he added.
The true stakeholders of club cricket were never taken into confidence while the rules were made and imposed. Despite repeated requests from former legends, cricketers and officials, the PCB is no mood to revisit its authority on clubs, he added.