Karachi : To encourage the six Cricket Association sides to play an attacking and positive brand of cricket, the Pakistan Cricket Board has introduced a result-oriented points system in the PCB Paying Conditions for the first-class Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which commences from Sunday, 25 October.
The 31-match tournament will be played across four Karachi venues, including the National Stadium, which will stage the five-day final from 1-5 January 2021.
To encourage the batsmen to increase their strike-rates, the PCB, in a major switch, has decided to reward five batting points to sides who will reach the 400-run mark inside 100 overs in the first innings.
According to the amended playing conditions, bonus batting points will be awarded as follows (first innings only):
- 200 runs inside 100 overs – 1 point
- 250 runs inside 100 overs – 2 points
- 300 runs inside 100 overs – 3 points
- 350 runs inside 100 overs – 4 points
- 400 runs inside 100 overs – 5 points
On the other side of the coin, the PCB has introduced a two-fold bowling points system.
The over-based points system is as follows:
- Three wickets inside 100 overs – 1 point
- Six wickets inside 100 overs – 2 points
- Eight wickets inside 100 overs – 3 points
Additional all-out bonus points will be allocated as follows:
- 200 runs or less inside 100 overs – three points
- Between 201 and 250 runs inside 100 overs– two points
- Between 251 and 300 runs inside 100 overs – one point
To further elaborate and simplify the allocation of points, if Team A bowls out Team B for 175 runs in 90 overs, then Team A will pocket three points for collecting eight wickets inside 100 overs and another three points for restricting their opponents to inside 200 runs. In contrast, Team B will remain pointless for being unable to achieve the minimum threshold of 200 runs inside 100 overs.
Similarly, if Team C scores 275 for nine in 100 overs against Team D, then Team D will collect three bowling points for claiming eight wickets but will be unable to add an additional point for their failure to grab the last wicket. In contrast, Team C will get two bonus points for cross the 250-run mark inside 100 overs.
Meanwhile, the PCB has also amended certain playing conditions. The key changes are.
Clause 16.2 (d) shall now read as:
In case of a walk over or if a team refuses to play, following penalties shall be imposed.
- The match shall stop there and then and will not be restarted
- The Playing XI and the officials of the defaulting team shall be banned for 12 months (it will be a global ban)
- All central contracts of that team will be cancelled
- The team can still play the event with replaced players/officials
- The points scored during that match will be nullified
- The opponents to be awarded maximum points
Clause 1.2.8 deals with the scenario of a like-by-like replacement of a player who has tested positive for Covid-19
Clause 1.2.7 deals with concussion replacement.
