PCB releases details for PSL-like junior league

• PCB holds soft launch for Pakistan Junior League today.
• This will be first-ever international league of its kind, PCB chairman says.
• Releases Request for Expressions of Interest for various available rights.

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Thursday released details for the Pakistan Junior League (PJL), a similar tournament to the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The "soft launch" of the junior league took place today when the PCB released the "Request for Expressions of Interest" for various available rights relating to the Twenty20 competition, which is scheduled for October this year, a statement from the board said.

The PCB is requesting expression of interest from the interested parties for the following rights:

• Title sponsorship
• Live-streaming
• Category sponsorships
• Team franchises

On the occasion, PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said he was excited as the board was finally moving toward holding a first-ever international league of junior cricketers.

"I am thrilled and excited that after days of hard work and planning, we have today released the Expression of Interest document for the Pakistan Junior League, the first-ever international league of its kind in the world, the first edition of which we plan to organise this year in October."

Providing details, the PCB chairman said it would be a city-based league with players to be selected through a draft system involving international age-group cricketers.

"The PCB will create an environment of brilliance with legends and icons of this game sitting in player dug-outs in the roles of mentors and coaches, and broadcast coverage from the top draw," he said.

“The PJL integrates very nicely with the PCB Junior Pathways Programme in which the PCB, through strategic partnerships, have provided contracts to 100 best cricketers who will now receive coaching from foreign experts, education at five-star institutions and monthly stipends of PKR30K each," he added.