Islamabad, Sep 4: The mentors for the Champions Cup have received a guideline from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) telling them not to choose players who are older than 35.
This move is intended to bring in new blood to the competition and give up-and-coming athletes a chance to display their abilities on a big stage.
Although this age restriction is exclusive to the Champions Cup, players over 35 are still welcome to compete in departmental and regional events.
Since many seasoned players, like Abid Ali, Noman Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Kashif Bhatti, and Asif Afridi, are directly impacted, the move has generated conversations within the cricket community.
These players will not be participating in this particular competition, despite their important contributions to Pakistan’s domestic and international cricket teams.
The PCB’s move is part of a larger plan to bring back domestic cricket by emphasizing youth development and establishing routes for younger players to advance to higher levels. It also begs concerns regarding the futures of seasoned competitors who have been mainstays on the home circuit.
As clubs adjust to the loss of seasoned leadership and expertise, the change may affect team dynamics and the competitive environment of the Champions Cup. It will be interesting to observe how teams react to this shift and which young players take advantage of the chance to establish themselves.
