Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has promised to address the concerns of athletes who have lost their jobs as a result of departmental sports section closures, The News reported.

According to reports, the issue was taken into account after Sindh local government minister Nasir Hussain Shah requested PM Shehbaz to revive departmental cricket.

Shah said that many players and officials have lost their jobs due to the closure of departments.

“With appeals from different quarters floating in, the government is likely to consider reviving departmental sports in the country,” sources said.

The reports further stated that the new government is looking to restart all departmental sports that were closed by the former government.

Shah further said that plans are being developed to revive the departmental sports.

Former test cricketer Iqbal Qasim, who was the prime supporter of the departmental cricket, resigned from the post of chairmanship of the cricket committee in September 2020, stating that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) was not taking the issue seriously.

All-format skipper Babar Azam also did not speak n the matter. However, his cousin Kamran Akmal, former skipper Salman Butt and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal raised their voice for the revival of departmental sports.

Due to the closure of departmental sports, players, coaches and officials have to do out-of-the-field jobs to earn a livelihood.