ICC Champions Trophy 2025: PCB abruptly stops Pakistan cricket tournament after all the embarrassment

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to suspend the National Under-19 Championship (also known as National Junior Championship) for an indefinite period. The tournament had just started on Tuesday (September 10) and three games were played on the first day.

The teams were supposed to play a match and then have a one-day break before they played a match again after the three-day matches.

The selection of the teams was conducted by the regional coaches named by the Pakistan Cricket Board. The selection panel also chose the board's representative and the president.

The tournament had started as per the schedule but the organizers received the postponement orders after the first day's play, which came in as a shock.

While there were no further details about the postponement, it is assumed that the decision was taken due to some unavoidable circumstances.

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"Unavoidable circumstances" force PCB to halt National Under-19 Championship

The news was conveyed by the Pakistan Cricket Board through an official media statement. The Board stated that the tournament has been suspended for an indefinite period and a new schedule will be announced later.

“The National Under-19 Championship, due to start today, and Cup, due to start on 14 September, have been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. The new schedule of both the tournaments will be shared in due course,” the PCB wrote in the statement.

It is believed that the Pakistan Cricket Board had spent a large amount of money on the organization of the tournament and setting up the 18 regional teams.

However, the tournament was postponed because PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi received complaints regarding team selection, fake documentation, and overage of players.

Fake documentation and overage affect Pakistan cricket

The issue of fake documentation and overage players is quite common in Pakistan's cricketing circuit and such cases are registered every year.

Before selecting the players, the board conducts wrist bone X-rays and has strict rules for submitting documents for the Under-19 tournaments and their selection.

An insider in the PCB claimed that several cases regarding fake documentation and overage of players were authenticated and they turned out to be correct, which forced Mohsin Naqvi to take such a serious step.

"The junior tournament is considered the backbone for producing the right talent for first-class cricket and international exposure by the board which is why despite a long process of selection, Mohsin Naqvi was disturbed when he received several complaints, some of which were authenticated to be correct," the insider was quoted by PTI.

Apart from spending money on the organization of the tournament, the PCB also spent money on giving the teams the transport, and meals, and setting up the training camps as well. Kits and daily allowances were also provided the the junior cricketers.

The women's Under-19 tournament was due to be started on September 16 but it has been postponed as well just like the men's Under-19 tournament. An announcement on this tournament will also be made later.