# Pakistan Junior League

The Pakistan Junior League (PJL) was a professional 20-over cricket league contested by Under-19 teams representing different cities of Pakistan. The league was soft-launched on 14 April 2022 by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman, Ramiz Raja. The only installment, the 2022 Pakistan Junior League (also known as PJL1), was played from 6–21 October 2022, featuring six teams and 19 games, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. Draft for the league was held on 8 Sep 2022, 24 foreign players from nine different countries were selected by teams along with 66 local players. It featured six teams playing 19 games in a round robin league format, at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. It was the first international league to exclusively consist of junior cricketers. Bahawalpur Royals beat Gwadar Sharks in the final on 21 October and became the inaugural and only champions of the PJL. The league was dissolved in December 2022.

## History
### Conception

   We talked about [improving the] pathways to professional cricket. In October next year, we'll launch an U19 PSL. This is very exciting because it's never happened anywhere else.
Shortly after his promotion to the position of PCB Chairman in September 2021, Ramiz Raja outlined his plans to improve cricket in Pakistan. Highlighting that the board needed to facilitate the transformation of young cricketers into world-class players, he expressed the desire to introduce an 'Under-19 T20 World League'. Over the following months, further details of this vision were outlined and Raja described his aspiration to expand the already successful Pakistan Super League (PSL) into two additional versions tailored to youth cricket and women's cricket. At the 67th Board of Governors meeting in December 2021, Pakistan's Pathway Cricket Foundation was identified as an initiative that would look to nurture 100 young cricketers in preparation for the upcoming launch of an 'U-19 PSL'.

### Launch

On 14 April 2022, the PCB, through their official website, announced the launch of the PJL. The announcement was accompanied by a statement from Raja who confirmed the inaugural season would take place in October 2022. In addition, the PCB had initiated the process to secure title, category sponsorships, live streaming providers and franchise owners. The competition was to be a city-based league with players selected through a draft system. The PCB planned to involve international age-group cricketers from various nations as well.

### Marketing

The season's logo variant was unveiled with the hashtag #Next11 and #PJL also being used on social media.
The tournament was broadcast live on PTV Sports and live streamed on Geo Super’s App and Geo Super’s YouTube and Facebook pages in Pakistan. Live streaming was made available on the PCB YouTube/Facebook and PJL YouTube/Facebook channels for the rest of the world.
The tournament broadcast was done through a 22 camera full HD production including enhancements such as Buggy cam and drone camera.
The commentary panel for the inaugural edition included prominent commentators Daren Ganga, Dominic Cork and Mike Haysman. Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir, former Zimbabwe player Tino Mawoyo and seasoned broadcaster Sikander Bakht was also a part of the panel. Roha Nadeem was the presenter.

### Dissolution

The Pakistan Junior League was dissolved by the newly appointed PCB Management Committee on 31 December 2022. It was dissolved after the first edition had cost approximately Rs. 997 million and had earned returns of Rs. 190 million, causing losses of US$4 million.

## Teams

On 30 August 2022, PCB announced the names of the six teams for the inaugural edition of the Pakistan Junior League, each representing one city of Pakistan. These names were different from those used by the teams of the Pakistan Super League. Although the PCB had initially had planned a franchise model similar to that of PSL, it decided to take up the ownership of the teams itself after the base price set up for the ownership of teams was not met by the bidders.
| Team | Mentor |
| Bahawalpur Royals | Imran Tahir |
| Gujranwala Giants | Shoaib Malik |
| Gwadar Sharks | Viv Richards |
| Hyderabad Hunters | Daren Sammy |
| Mardan Warriors | Shahid Afridi |
| Rawalpindi Raiders | Colin Munro |

## Draft

The draft for the league was held on 8 September 2022. 24 overseas players from nine different countries were selected by teams along with 66 local players. The opening ceremony and first match of the tournament was held at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on 6 October 2022. The 2022 PJL cost Rs. 997 million and incurred losses of US$4 million which caused the PJL to be dissolved by the newly appointed PCB management committee.

## Venues

All the matches of the PJL took place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

## League stage
### Format

The six teams played 5 matches each and got 2 points for every win, none for a loss and 1 point for a no result. The top four teams in the group stage qualified for the play-offs.
A warm-up match was played between Hyderabad Hunters and Rawalpindi Raiders in which Hyderabad Hunters defeated Rawalpindi Raiders by 7 wickets.

### Points table

| Team | Pld | W | L | D | T | Pts | NRR |
| Gwadar Sharks (R) | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1.231 |
| Bahawalpur Royals (C) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0.821 |
| Rawalpindi Raiders (4th) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.067 |
| Mardan Warriors (3rd) | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | -0.429 |
| Gujranwala Giants | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -0.280 |
| Hyderabad Hunters | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1.550 |
* The top 4 teams qualified for the Playoffs
* Advanced to Qualifier 1
* Advanced to Eliminator

### League progression

| | Round-robin stage | Round-robin stage | Round-robin stage | Round-robin stage | Round-robin stage | Knockout | Knockout | Knockout |
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Q1/E | Q2 | F |
| Bahawalpur Royals | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | L | W | W |
| Gujranwala Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | | | |
| Gwadar Sharks | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | W | | L |
| Hyderabad Hunters | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | | | |
| Mardan Warriors | 2 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 6 | W | L | |
| Rawalpindi Raiders | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 6 | L | | |
| Won | Lost | No result |
    Note: The total points at the end of each group match are listed.
    Note: Click on the points (group matches) or W/L (knockout) to see the match summary.

## Fixtures

The PCB confirmed the fixtures for the tournament.
* Match 1 6 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Gujranwala Giants 131/7 (20 over) | v | Mardan Warriors 132/2 (16.5 overs) |
| Uzair Mumtaz 54 (47) Aimal Khan 3/15 (4 overs) | | George Thomas 50 (32) Mohammad Ibtisam 1/22 (3.5) |
* Mardan Warriors won by 8 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Waleed Yaqub and Tariq Rasheed Player of the match: George Thomas (Mardan Warriors)
* Mardan Warriors won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 2 7 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Hyderabad Hunters 113/10 (18.3 over) | v | Bahawalpur Royals 117/2 (12.4 over) |
| Saad Baig 34 (24) Arham Nawab 3/15 (4 overs) | | Basit Ali 54 (30) Haseeb-ur-Rehman 1/9 (2 Overs) |
* Bahawalpur Royals won by 8 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Imtiaz Iqbal and Aaley Haider Player of the match: Arham Nawab (Bahawalpur Royals)
* Bahawalpur Royals won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 3 8 October 2022 15:30 Scorecard
| Rawalpindi Raiders 116/10 (19 overs) | v | Gwadar Sharks 150/5 (20 overs) |
| Aseer Mughal 26 (23) M. Shoaib 3/12 (4 overs) | | Arafat Minhas 40(24) Afnan Khan 3/20 (4 overs) |
* Gwadar Sharks won by 34 runs. Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Waleed Yaqub and Imtiaz Iqbal Player of the match: Arafat Minhas (Gwadar Sharks)
* Rawalpindi Raiders won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 4 8 October 2022 20:00 (N) Scorecard
| Gujranwala Giants 179/6 (20 overs) | v | Bahawalpur Royals 180/5 (19.4 overs) |
| Shevon Daniel 81(51) Muhammad Zeeshan 2/25 (3 overs) | | Basit Ali 102(58) Muhammad Shan 3/44 (4 overs) |
* Bahawalpur Royals won by 5 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Tariq Rasheed and Saqib Khan Player of the match: Basit Ali (Bahawalpur Royals)
* Bahawalpur Royals won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 5 9 October 2022 13:30 Scorecard
| Hyderabad Hunters 182/5 (20 overs) | v | Gwadar Sharks 186/5 (19.5 overs) |
| Saad Baig 64(45) Saad Masood 3/26 (3 overs) | | Shamyl Hussain 87(57) Muhammad Zubair Jr. 2/20 (2.5 overs) |
* Gwadar Sharks won by 5 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Imtiaz Iqbal and Waleed Yaqub Player of the match: Shamyl Hussain (Gwadar Sharks)
* Gwadar Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 6 9 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Rawalpindi Raiders 134/5 (19.4 overs) | v | Mardan Warriors 131/8 (20 overs) |
| Charlie Tear 34(27) Mohammad Nabeel 2/23 (4 overs) | | Archie Lenham 31(37) Ziaullah 3/22 (4 overs) |
* Rawalpindi Raiders won by 5 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Saqib Khan and Aaley Haider Player of the match: Charlie Tear (Rawalpindi Raiders)
* Rawalpindi Raiders won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 7 10 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Bahawalpur Royals 145/4 (20 overs) | v | Mardan Warriors 147/5 (19.1 overs) |
| Ali Razzaq 44 (43) Abbas Ali 1/14 (1 over) | | George Thomas 58 (39) Muhammad Zeeshan 2/17 (4 overs) |
* Mardan Warriors won by 5 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Nasir Hussain and Tariq Rasheed Player of the match: George Thomas (Mardan Warriors)
* Mardan Warriors won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 8 11 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Hyderabad Hunters 40/8 (5 overs) | v | Rawalpindi Raiders 125/4 (16 overs) |
| Ali Naseer 12 (5) Afnan Khan 3/7 (2 overs) | | Hassan Eisakheil 52 (36) James Wood 1/9 (2 overs) |
* Rawalpindi Raiders won by 14 runs (D/L method) Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Saqib Khan and Aaley Haider Player of the match: Afnan Khan (Rawalpindi Raiders)
* Rawalpindi Raiders won the toss and elected to bat.
* Rawalpindi Raiders innings was shortened due to a thunderstorm at the end of 16th over with the total 125/4 and Hyderabad Hunters given a target of 55 in 5 overs.
* Match 9 12 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Gujranwala Giants 87 (15.4 overs) | v | Gwadar Sharks 131/10 (20 overs) |
| Arafat Minhas 37 (30) Mohammad Ibtisam 2/21 (4 overs) | | Shavon Daniel 28 (26) Arafat Minhas 4/13 (2 overs) |
* Gwadar Sharks won by 44 runs Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Imran Javed and Nasir Hussain Player of the match: Arafat Minhas (Gwadar Sharks)
* Gujranwala Giants won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 10 13 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Mardan Warriors 133/6 (19.2 overs) | v | Hyderabad Hunters 128/6 (20 overs) |
| Haseebullah Khan 49* (39) Ali Naseer 3/41 (5 overs) | | Ali Naseer 54* (37) Mohammad Irfan jr. 2/17 (4 overs) |
* Mardan Warriors won by 4 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Mohammad Asif and Imran Jawed Player of the match: Haseebullah Khan (Mardan Warriors)
* Hyderabad Hunters won the toss and elected to bat
* Match 11 14 October 2022 13:30 [ Scorecard]
| Rawalpindi Raiders 128 (19.3 overs) | v | Gujranwala Giants 129/6 (18.1 overs) |
| Habibullah 55 (53) Matthew Tromp 3/19 (4 overs) | | Uzair Mumtaz 56* (43) Ali Raza 2/25 (2 overs) |
* Gujranwala Giants won by 4 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Ghaffar Kazmi and Mohammad Asif Player of the match: Uzair Mumtaz (Gujranwala Giants)
* Gujranwala Giants won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 12 14 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Bahawalpur Royals 122/2 (14.4 overs) | v | Gwadar Sharks 119/8 (20 overs) |
| Shawaiz Irfan 51* (30) Arafat Minhas 1/15 (3 overs) | | Haseeb Nazim 26 (23) Nangeyalia kharote 2/20 (4 overs) |
* Bahawalpur Royals won by 8 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Sajid Player of the match: Mohammad Tayyab Arif (Bahawalpur Royals)
* Bahawalpur Royals won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 13 15 October 2022 13:30 (N) Scorecard
| Hyderabad Hunters 129/8 (20 overs) | v | Gujranwala Giants 133/4 (16.2 overs) |
| Saad Baig 43 (44) Uzair Mumtaz 3/13 (3 overs) | | Azan Awais 61 (43) Mohammad Zubair 2/26 (3 overs) |
* Gujranwala Giants won by 6 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Mohammad Asif and Imran Jawed Player of the match: Azan Awais (Gujranwala Giants)
* Hyderabad Hunters won the toss and elected to bat.
* Match 14 15 October 2022 18:00 (N) [ Scorecard]
| Bahawalpur Royals 140/9 (20 overs) | v | Rawalpindi Raiders 163/7 (20 overs) |
| Basit Ali Jnr. 44 (32) Aseer Mughal 3/19 (4 overs) | | Habibullah 36 (23) Arham Nawab 2/24 (4 overs) Nathan Edwards 2/24 (4 overs) |
* Rawalpindi Raiders won by 23 runs. Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Ghaffar Kazmi and Shozab Raza Player of the match: Ziaullah (Rawalpindi Raiders)
* Bahawalpur Royals won the toss and elected to field.
* Match 15 16 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Mardan Warriors 100 (16.3 overs) | v | Gwadar Sharks 177/9 (20 overs) |
| Burhan Niaz 47 (42) Saad Masood 5/6 (2.3 overs) | | Luc Benkenstein 74 (46) Mohammad Irfan Jnr. 3/29 (4 overs) |
* Gwadar Sharks won by 77 runs. Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Imran Jawed and Mohammad Sajid Player of the match: Luc Benkenstein (Gwadar Sharks)
* Mardan Warriors won the toss and elected to field.

## Playoffs

| Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 1 | Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 2 | Qualifier 2 | Final | Final | Final |
| 18 October — Lahore | 18 October — Lahore | 18 October — Lahore | | | | 21 October — Lahore | 21 October — Lahore | 21 October — Lahore |
| 1 | Gwadar Sharks | 141/2 (18.2 overs) | | | | 1 | Gwadar Sharks | 139 (15.1 overs) |
| 2 | Bahawalpur Royals | 139/7 (20 overs) | 20 October — Lahore | 20 October — Lahore | 20 October — Lahore | 2 | Bahawalpur Royals | 225/3 (20 overs) |
| | | | 2 | Bahawalpur Royals | 133/1 (14.5 overs) | | | |
| Eliminator | Eliminator | Eliminator | 4 | Mardan Warriors | 132/9 (20 overs) | | | |
| 19 October — Lahore | 19 October — Lahore | 19 October — Lahore | | | | | | |
| 3 | Rawalpindi Raiders | 121 (19.3 overs) | | | | | | |
| 4 | Mardan Warriors | 122/4 (18.4 overs) | | | | | | |

### Qualifier 1

* Match 16 18 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Gwadar Sharks 141/2 (18.2 overs) | v | Bahawalpur Royals 139/7 (20 overs) |
| Luc Benkenstein 71 (37) Nathan Edward 1/18 (4 overs) | | Danish Mohammad 33 (31) Mohammad Ismail 3/14 (4 overs) |
* Gwadar Sharks won by 8 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Faisal Afridi Player of the match: Luc Benkenstein (Gwadar Sharks)
* Gwadar Sharks won the toss and elected to field.

### Eliminator

* Match 17 19 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Rawalpindi Raiders 121 (19.3 overs) | v | Mardan Warriors 122/4 (18.4 overs) |
| Habibullah 65 (51) Abidullah 3/17 (overs) | | Shahzaib Khan 35 (32) Hassan Eisakhil 1/13 (1.4 overs) |
* Mardan Warriors won by 6 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Rashid Riaz and Shozab Raza Player of the match: Abidullah (Mardan Warriors)
* Rawalpindi Raiders won the toss and elected to bat.

### Qualifier 2

* Match 18 20 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Bahawalpur Royals 133/1 (14.5 overs) | v | Mardan Warriors 132/9 (20 overs) |
| Basit Ali 91* (55) Mohammad Nabeel 1/34 (3 overs) | | Shahzaib Khan 32 (36) Arham Nawab 2/21 (4 overs) |
* Bahawalpur Royals won by 9 wickets Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Player of the match: Basit Ali (Bahawalpur Royals)
* Bahawalpur Royals won the toss and elected to field.

## Final

* Match 19 21 October 2022 18:00 (N) Scorecard
| Gwadar Sharks 139 (15.1 overs) | v | Bahawalpur Royals 225/3 (20 overs) |
| Shamyl Hussain 67 (34) Mohammad Zeeshan 3/27 (3.1 overs) | | Shawaiz Irfan 79 (32) Momin Qamar 2/34 (4 overs) |
* Bahawalpur Royals won by 86 runs Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore Umpires: Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz Player of the match: Shawaiz Irfan (Bahawalpur Royals)
* Gwadar Sharks won the toss and elected to field.
* Bahawalpur Royals won the 2022-23 Pakistan Junior League

## Team of the tournament

* Basit Ali
* Tayyab Arif
* Shevon Daniel
* Luc Benkenstein
* Haseeb Khan
* Arafat Minhas (c)
* Arham Nawab
* Abidullah
* Shawaiz Irfan (wk)
* Mohammad Zeeshan
* Mohammad Ismail
* Matthew Tromp (12th man)

## Results

The only champions were Bahawalpur Royals, who defeated Gwadar Sharks in the final.