In his brief speech at a local hotel on Sunday at the launching ceremony of the National Under-19 Cricket Championship Grade II, Majid Khan addressed the gathering despite flu. The competition will begin at different cities from Monday simultaneously. Majid Khan said that earlier the domestic season used to finish in about one month, but with the introduction of the new format it had been spread to over four or five months. That would give every player sufficient time in between the matches to keep himself fit. He said that in case of an injury a player would only miss one or two matches. Under the old format whenever a player would become unfit, he had to miss the entire tournament. Moreover, he said that the new format would give ample time to the cricket associations to maintain their grounds properly. Majid Khan emphasised that the new format would help in promoting cricket in the country.
The PCB chief executive thanked the sponsoring company for its cooperation in promoting junior cricket in the country. He said that enough talent had been thrown up by their patronage of lower-level Director Marketing of the sponsoring company, Nizam Khan welcomed Majid Khan and other guests. He said that a total prize money of Rs 1,20,000 would be distributed among the winners, runners-up, best batsmen, bowlers, wickekeepers and fielders of both Grade I and II events of the junior championship. He said that his company would continue its sponsorship for the promotion of cricket at junior level.
While replying to a question, the PCB secretary Waqar Ahmad said that the National Junior Cricket Championship Grade II matches would begin as per schedule from Monday in other cities as the grounds had dried after last week's rains. However, the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground was not proper shape as match to be held on that might have to be shifted to some other ground.
According to draws of the championship, 13 divisional teams, taking part have been divided into four groups. The top team of each group will enter the semi-finals. Pool A comprises Mardan, Peshawar, Kohat and Hazara teams and its all matches will be played in NWFP. In pool B, three teams Quetta, Sibi and Dera Ismail Khan will play at the Bugti Stadium, Quetta. In Pool C, Islamabad, Sukkur and Larkana have been placed. They will play their matches in Sindh. In Pool D, LCCA Blues, Gujranwala and Sargodha are placed. They will play their matches in Punjab.
In the semi-final, the top team of pool A will meet the top team of pool C and the champion team of pool B will face top team of pool C. Both the semi-finals will be played from September 14 to 16. The final is carded from September 19 to 22. The venues and umpires of the semi-finals and the final will be named in due course of time.