Pakistan's T20 League

PCB is contemplating holding a T20 domestic league having a franchise system much like the IPL but different and unique at the same time. On PTV Sports, Amir Sohail floated the idea of a PRO 40 tournament. In this post, a new tournament is being proposed incorporating the features of the Super 8s, ICL, Barclays English Premier League (EPL) and IPL, which might have the potential to bring international cricket back to Pakistan. Remember, copying is one thing, taking inspiration is another. What Pakistan cricket needs currently is a tournament to showcase that our country is safe for international cricket and that it has the potential to become a financial hub for investors.


TARGET:
To bring back international cricket to Pakistan
To improve the viewer-ship of domestic cricket in Pakistan
To attract investment in Pakistan cricket

WHAT WE NEED TO DO:

1. A new T20 tournament should be introduced in place of the super 8s T20 tournament. Currently we have two T20 tournaments, so we can replace the super 8s.
2. The new tournament should have 10 teams representing Lahore, Karachi, Peshawer, Quetta, Faislabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Multan / Overseas XI, World XI.
3. If at least 15 foreign players are available from ONE country, they can represent their own country in this tournament like Lahore Badshahs and Dhaka did in the ICL. This will ensure that the tournament is watched all over the world.
4. Each team's squad should have at least 11 local players and 4 foreign players. The quota for foreign players in the playing XI should be 4.
5. The Top 99 players in our T20 tournament should be distributed among the 9 local teams.
6. The World XI will include only foreign players, preferably from ICC Associate teams.
7. The other (2nd tier) T20 tournament should be played among 5-6 teams. The winners will be promoted to the (1st tier) League next year. The team with the least points in the League will be relegated to the T20 Tournament next year.

The Tournament:

1. The tournament will be based on a league basis, with each team playing the other nine teams twice each.
2. Each win will constitute 3 points, a tie or no result 1 point.
3. There will be no semi final or final, the team with the most points at the end of the tournament will win. This ensures that every match is important and weaker teams do not win the tournament by playing well in just the semi finals and final.

A World XI and foreign teams will bring overseas interest, but if these teams win the tournament, that would portray a bad image of the quality of our domestic cricket.

PRO40 TOURNAMENT:

2-innings-per-side-T20 tournament, which would take the place of our Super 8s T20 tournament. The ICC considered this idea for one day cricket too when Sachin Tendulkar proposed it. However the boards did not agree on implementing this format. 

1. As suggested on Sports Circle (PTV Sports) the format for the game would be a two innings per side match.
2. Each innings would constitute 20 overs.
3. There would be no quota for bowlers
4. Powerplay would be at the end of the innings.

Problems if PRO40 Tournament is Played:

1. Having ten teams playing even once against each other means there will be 45 matches. Since each match will have 80 overs, there would be 1 match per day on a venue. Hence, the tournament will take at least 50 days. Reducing the teams will mean that the local players get less exposure.
2. Even if 2 matches are played in one day, both cannot be televised at the same time.
3. A long tournament will mean that top players might miss out due to their international commitments.

Therefore, having a T20 tournament is the way forward as 2-3 matches can be played in one day, and the all matches can be played at one venue. Also the security arrangements would be easier if there's only one venue.