The six teams will play 19 games in Lahore from October 5 to 21 (revised from October 1 to 15). The board said 140 cricketers from 18 countries had expressed an interest in participating in the tournament. Players between the ages of 15 and 19 will be picked through a draft process, due to be held on September 6.
The PCB called the move towards this ownership a “strategic decision” though the failure to find bidders in the market that met its own expectations is a blow to its ambitious plans for this league. “Instead of selling team rights, the PCB has made a strategic decision to take complete ownership of the inaugural edition,” PCB CEO Faisal Hasnain said in a release. “This gives us the chance to present to the world and to all our valued commercial partners that this is an event that has high value, context and is here to stay.
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“While the process for the sale of other commercial inventory is ongoing and we remain confident of attracting high-quality sponsors, I want to thank all the investors who expressed their interest in procuring team naming rights. We will continue the discussions with them after the completion of the tournament, with a future aim of building a long-term relationship.”
“The Pakistan Junior League dovetails very nicely with the PCB’s Development Programme, through which we organise schools, clubs, City Cricket Association, Cricket Association and PCB-organised 50-over and three-day tournaments,” Hasnain said. “As the game’s regulatory and governing body in Pakistan, it is our responsibility to attract and create chances for our talented youth so that they not only make a career as a professional cricketer, but also solidify our bench-strength.”
Umar Farooq is ESPNcricinfo’s Pakistan correspondent
Source: ESPN Crickinfo