Azhar Ali Defends Departmental Cricket’s Role in Pakistan

Azhar Ali’s Passionate Defense

In a recent interview with Cricinfo, former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali passionately defended the role of departmental cricket within Pakistan’s domestic structure. He labeled it a “nursery for the national side” and asserted that the current struggles of Pakistan’s red-ball cricket are directly connected to the sidelining of departmental teams over the past few years.

“Department cricket is a big need for Pakistan,” Azhar emphasized. “It’s contributed a lot to our cricket. We shut it down a few years ago, and my personal view is that the slide in Pakistan’s international cricket right now has a lot to do with department cricket being shut down.”

The PCB’s Recent Decisions

In a sweeping move, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that it would not allow two key departmental teams, WAPDA and Sahir Associates, to participate in the upcoming 2026-27 season due to their inability to comply with newly enforced participation fees. This decision comes amidst a backdrop of rising costs and increasingly stringent regulations being imposed on departmental sides.

Casualties of these recent changes, WAPDA, one of the oldest teams in Pakistan’s domestic cricket and last season’s defending champions, along with Sahir Associates, opted out rather than accept the new terms.

Azhar expressed concern about these constant changes. “If you change every year, then you were either wrong last year or you’re wrong now. At the PCB, our problem is we’re never wrong, but perhaps we’re never right either,” he stated. He criticized the PCB’s yearly reassurances that each new season would yield better player development as empty promises.

The Impact of Departmental Teams

Azhar, who credits his cricketing foundation to the departmental system, lamented the effects of its marginalization. He recalled how, for many young cricketers in Pakistan, departments provided not just a platform for talent development but also financial security. “It’s very important in Pakistan’s cultural and economic reality,” he explained. “The salaries of Grade 2 teams are vital; otherwise, young players’ parents won’t let them play.”

This sentiment underscores a reality that differs greatly from cricketing cultures in countries like England and Australia, where structured programs are necessary to draw young players into the sport.

A Critical Perspective on Pakistan’s Decline

Pakistan’s current standing in world cricket has raised alarms, as the team has lost 13 out of its last 18 Test matches, placing them in eighth in the World Test Championship standings. Azhar correlated these dismal statistics with the reduced role of departmental cricket in nurturing talent.

“You can feel the quality, through international cricket and right down the divisions, dropping. Because we stopped a functioning aspect of domestic cricket right in its tracks,” he stated. Azhar highlighted the absence of experienced players as detrimental to the growth of young cricketers. “Who will they learn from?” he questioned, pointing to the necessity for experienced players to mentor the next generation.

Conclusion: The Future of Pakistan Cricket

As discussions around the future of Pakistan cricket continue, Azhar’s insights serve as a reminder of the importance of a stable and supportive domestic structure. The path forward may require not just recognition, but a courageous decision to revive the model that once successfully developed numerous talents for the national team.