RAWALPINDI, Jul 26 (APP): Former national coach and first-class cricketer Sabih Azhar on Sunday lauded the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to introduce Gold and Silver groups alongside a promotion and relegation system in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, terming it a significant step toward boosting and making domestic first-class cricket more competitive and high-yielding.
In an exclusive talk with APP, Sabih Azhar explained that under the new structure, the bottom two teams of the Gold group at the end of each season will be relegated to the Silver group, while the top two teams from the Silver group will earn promotion to the Gold group. He said that this system has long been an effective mechanism in leading sports leagues worldwide to maintain peak performance standards.
“The new format will ensure every match carries weight. Gold group teams will strive to retain their standing, while Silver group teams will battle for promotion, leading to tougher, highly engaging and quality encounters”, Sabih said.
He highlighted that a consistently competitive environment fosters mental toughness, pressure handling, and professional acuity among players—attributes critical for succeeding at the international level.
To a question he said that the promotion-relegation framework promotes meritocracy and transparency, forcing teams to perform consistently each season while giving lower-tier teams an equal opportunity to advance through merit.
He expressed hope that if sustained transparently, the initiative will elevate the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy’s standard and produce a more balanced first-class setup.
