Najam Sethi-led PCB Administration Scraps Pakistan Junior League (PJL)
Published - 01 Jan 2023, 12:59 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM
The newly-appointed administration of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which is headed by chairman Najam Sethi, has decided to discontinue the Pakistan Junior League (PJL).
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently underwent major changes with the arrival of a new chairman – Najam Sethi – and a new interim chief of the Men’s Selection Committee – Shahid Afridi.
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Ramiz Raja, who was appointed as the 36th chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on September 13, 2021, was removed from his role on December 21, 2022, following Pakistan’s humiliating Test series defeat against England at home.
The decision to discontinue the Pakistan Junior League was taken at a meeting of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s management committee on Saturday, December 31.
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Notably, it was expected that PJL, which was the brainchild of Ramiz Raja, would be scrapped after Ramiz’s departure. The 60-year-old, a week before being sacked, had signed an MoU with a company for the commercial and management rights of the league and the deal was for 20 years, and was worth PKR 55.5 million per year.
The inaugural edition of the T20 league for Under-19 players from around the globe, was played from October 6 to 21 in 2022. In its first year itself, the league incurred heavy losses and the competition’s future was always uncertain.
The PCB Management Committee Agreed To Discontinue The Pakistan Junior League – Pakistan Cricket Board
In an official statement issued by the PCB, it was stated that the board has scrapped PJL, but is planning to “revive junior series on a home and away basis”.
“The PCB Management Committee agreed to discontinue the Pakistan Junior League,” a PCB statement said.
“However, to ensure there is a pathway for the high-performing teenagers and the country continues to produce talented cricketers across all age gaps, it was agreed to revive junior series on a home and away basis.
“It was also agreed to hold discussions with the HBL Pakistan Super League franchises to include an Under-19 player under their Emerging Categories in the playing line-ups.”
Notably, the inaugural edition of PJL came with expenses of approximately PKR 997 million, while the PCB got an income of only PKR 190 million out of it.
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