PCB announces first Pakistan Junior League in October

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the launch of the first junior league at the end of this year after the sponsors and partners...

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the launch of the first junior league at the end of this year after the sponsors and partners showed keen interest in the Pakistan Junior League (PJL).

 

The first junior league will be held in October, officials said. Photo: PCB Media Twitter

The PCB had initially announced the launch of a unique style cricket league in the country earlier this month but now after the interest of sponsors and partners, the cricket board has also released the details of the league.

 

According to the PCB, the 6-city franchise team tournament will be played from October 1 to 15 at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore and a total of 19 matches will be played in the event.

 

The selection of players for the Pakistan Junior League will be completed through drafting. In each dressing room there will be a city-wide cricketer as a mentor or coach.

 

According to the cricket board, this will be the first T20 league of its kind at the under-19 level where young domestic and foreign cricketers will participate.

Interestingly, under this scheme, each foreign player will be allowed to bring one of his parents with him, in which case the expenses will be borne by the tournament organizers or the franchise of that player.

It is also worth mentioning here that Pakistan Junior League is part of the recently launched PCB Pathway Cricket Program. Under the Pathway Cricket Program, the PCB and its two partners, BRB Group and Engro Corporation, have announced educational scholarships for 100 talented young players and training from foreign coaches, as well as a monthly stipend of Rs 30,000. 

 

Cricket Board Chairman Rameez Raja expressed happiness over the interest shown in the Junior League by the sponsors and partners and said in his statement that the interest of the sponsors has increased their confidence and strengthened their ambitions. There is a huge and strong commercial market for cricket in Pakistan where our partners are happy to invest.

He said that after the successful organization of HBL Pakistan Super League 7 and the improvement in the identity of the PCB, the potential sponsors have shown keen interest in the city based Pakistan Junior League.

Rameez Raja said that sponsors and commercial partners are of utmost importance for this sport and organization. In this context, he is grateful to those who have shown interest in buying the franchise.

In the next phase, the PCB will now issue a tender for the rights to live streaming after the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.