No less than 24 matches were increased in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Grade Two, 14 matches in Patron's Trophy Grade Two and 21 matches in National Juniors Cup Grade Two Championship which will serve as the curtain raiser.

However, five matches will be reduced from the National One-day Championship when the cricket board releases the draws of that particular tournament in due course of time.

There has been no increase in the first-class matches and a total of 75 games will be played - 46 in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy and 29 in Patron's Trophy in the forthcoming season. They will be besides the six Tests and at least half a dozen side games which Australia and Zimbabwe play between September and December.

This means that in the 1998-99 season, the cricket board will organise 267 matches - 55 additional games as compared to 212 which were held last season. The main objective appears to give more projection, experience and exposure to the smaller cities and departments.