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The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed its national junior championship because of 'unavoidable circumstances" after the tournament started on Tuesday with three-day games across different venues. The Under-19 competition began on time however the deferment orders were passed on to the groups and authorities after the primary day's play, leaving everyone in a state of shock.
“The National U19 Championship, due to start today and Cup, due to start on 14 September, have been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances. The new schedule of both the tournaments will be shared in due course,” wrote PCB in their official media statement.
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PCB did not explain this unexpected and shocking decision, particularly after the board had burned through large number of rupees in setting up the 18 regional teams. According to a board insider, the indefinite postponement was caused by the number of complaints that chairman Mohsin Naqvi had received regarding issues with team selection, overage players, and fake documentation. Every year, there are cases and allegations of wrongdoing in the selection of players and the authenticity of their age, despite the fact that the board conducts wrist bone X-rays and has stringent rules for submitting documents for the U-19 tournaments.
"The junior tournament is considered the backbone for producing the right talent for first-class cricket and international exposure by the board which is why despite a long process of selection, Mohsin Naqvi was disturbed when he received several complaints, some of which were authenticated to be correct," the insider was quoted by PTI.
The PCB had spent a lot of money on setting up training camps for each of the 18 teams, while additionally giving them meals, convenience and transport, and other accommodations. They also provided them with kits and daily allowances. The teams were to play a one-day match following a day's break after the three-day matches. The selection was done by regional coaches who the PCB named, while the selection panel likewise incorporated the board's representative and president of the region. The PCB has likewise deferred the national women’s U-19 competition, which was to begin on September 16.
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