PCB set to revive format of holding four-day, one-day matches together in domestic cricket

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly set to revive a 20-year-old format of holding first-class and one-day matches together as part of the major changes that have been made in domestic cricket recently.

The change will reportedly come into effect in the upcoming domestic season which is likely to start at the end of October.

According to the Express Tribune, former captain Rashid Latif had suggested that the tournaments should be held together in a bid to save all the departments' resources, a format which is already followed regularly in domestic U-19 tournaments.

Confirming the change, a PCB official said that they would be holding four-day and one-day matches simultaneously in first-class cricket from now on like the 1990s to save a lot of money for the departments in a cyclic form.

The official also said that each cycle will be a week long and will start with a four-day match followed by a 50-over match played between the same teams after a day's rest.

Although the departmental and regional tournaments will be held separately, the report said that they would also start at the same time for which the players representing their departmental teams will not be able to represent their regional outfits.

The official also said that the board has also increased the squad limit for teams from 20 players to 25 so that in case of injuries, the sides have enough resources to cope with the diverse and lengthier format

Any replacement sought by the teams outside the 25-man squad will only be given if any of their players have gone on national duty to represent Pakistan, the report added.