Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has linked the country’s recent struggles in Test cricket to the decline of departmental cricket, which he believes played a major role in developing players.
Azhar, who represented Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs, described departmental teams as a key “nursery” for the national side and warned that the system is once again being weakened.
“Department cricket is a big need for Pakistan,” Azhar told Cricinfo.
He said shutting down the system had hurt the development of Pakistani cricket and that its return has not been given enough importance.
Azhar criticises constant changes
The Pakistan Cricket Board recently removed WAPDA and Sahir Associates from the 2026-27 domestic season after the teams did not meet new regulations. WAPDA had been one of Pakistan’s longest-running domestic teams.
Azhar also criticised the PCB for frequently changing its domestic structure instead of allowing a system time to work.
“The first thing I’d do is to give any system we implement a few years. If you change every year, then you were either wrong last year, or you’re wrong now,” he said.
Azhar himself developed through departmental cricket and believes it provided young players with something crucial: financial security.
“I was moulded in department cricket, as so many others have been,” Azhar said.
He explained that departmental teams offered salaries even when regional teams overlooked players, allowing cricketers to continue pursuing the sport.
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Financial security key for young players
Azhar said Pakistan has no shortage of youngsters who want to play cricket, but many families cannot afford to let them pursue it without financial support.
“Desire to play is not a problem [in Pakistan],” he said.
He added that cricket must be financially viable for young players, especially those who need to support their families.
“It’s easy to say, reduce the teams in domestic cricket. But if you’re not getting financially rewarded for it, how many kids will be able to afford to take up cricket?” Azhar said.
He warned that without such support, talented youngsters could abandon cricket or leave Pakistan in search of better opportunities.
