It is said that the cricket has evolved from a strictly amateur game into a multibillion-dollar industry that is starting to increase exponentially as the developing world embraces the sport. Different sources state that in the late 16th century, the sport of cricket has originated in the south-east England. It became the country’s national sport in the 18th century and has developed internationally in the 19th and 20th. In the cricket, the player’s presentation is one of the main factors for team coaches and even selectors, and also to decide whether batting presentation dominates over bowling performance or not. According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the proportion of Asia’s population that could be defined as middle class increased from 26 percent to 56 percent between 1999 and 2008.
In countries like Pakistan and India, cricket has increased mainly as a street game played by the very poor. This meant, although talent-spotters could cream off great cricketing potential from among so many young players, expenditure on the sport was limited to a privileged minority. Although the ADB’s definition of a middle class – those earning the equivalent of $2.20 a day – is very low by western standards, this sector of society is rising rapidly. However, it is also said that the cricketing world is increasingly concerned at the level of corruption now emerging in some developing markets like Pakistan and India.
It is also said that there is presently no place other than the sub-continent, at the moment, where cricket is so successful in terms of the number of admirers also in commercial terms. Pakistan and India are the leading cricketing rivals in the Sub-Continent. In cricket, match fixing occurs as a match is played to a totally or partially pre-determined consequence, violating the principles of the game and often the law. In particular, players have been approached by bookmakers and bribed to throw matches or aspects of matches (such as the toss), or offer other necessary information. Fixing has happened in both international – counting Test matches and One Day Internationals – and local cricket.
Cricket is no doubt one of the most interesting games which is not only famous in Asia but in all over the world. Here I would like to mention that Lord’s stadium (London) is one of the most beautiful stadiums and the present Lord’s ground is about 250 yards (230 m) north-west of the site of the Middle Ground. The ground can hold 28,000 spectators. Proposals are being developed to increase capacity and amenity. As of December 2013, it was proposed to redevelop the ground at a cost of around £200 million over a 14-year period.
In Pakistan, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the sole regulatory authority to manage and control the affairs of the game of cricket, is conscious of the fact that cricket is the most popular game in Pakistan because of which individuals and entities are actively trying to organize private cricket tournaments. PCB being a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) is under obligation to follow the principles formulated by ICC. Further PCB as the sole regulator of all forms of the game of cricket in the country is duty bound to make sure that the laws of cricket as formulated from time to time by ICC also PCB itself are followed in true spirits wherever cricket is played in the country.
PCB also administers the system that offers the maintenance of discipline amongst the constituent members and, by the constituent members, overall cricketing bodies and individuals under their control. PCB is also accountable for coordinating activities in respect of the game of cricket in all manners and ways, counting the formulation of the laws of the game, its constituent members and other subordinate bodies and to organize national tournaments and foreign matches within Pakistan. To standardize and control umpiring in cricket and ensure its maintenance at a high level throughout Pakistan is also in the scope of PCB. Pakistan Cricket Board was yearly spending a huge amount on cricket and its infrastructure. The local cricket infrastructure development needed improvement in Pakistan for which PCB is trying its level best for up-gradation of playing facilities and opportunities for the players.
Conclusion
PCB is making improvements in the domestic structure on as and when required basis as per changes in the game of cricket because of modern techniques and technologies. PCB has organized High Performance Centers at Karachi and Multan which are operational. PCB has future plans to organize High Performance Cricket Centers in other regions, to facilitate the national and local players along with developing fitness centers at all the grounds where first class/domestic matches are played to improve the physical fitness of local players. It is also said that PCB is in the process of upgrading the National Stadium Karachi to hold the final of Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2018 and will also help in holding domestic matches in Karachi in the future.