Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Higher Education Commission (HEC) have announced the commencement of the inaugural PCB HEC Intervarsity Tournament, slated to start on 10 October for women and 15 October for men. The tournament will involve 127 universities, showcasing cricketing talent across 212 matches in 43 venues nationwide.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the PCB HEC Intervarsity Tournament is a strategic initiative under a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding between PCB and HEC. The event aims to nurture young talent and provide a national platform for university students to compete and showcase their cricketing skills. The women’s 40-over matches are scheduled to begin on 10 October with 25 universities participating, divided into five zones. The men’s 50-over matches will start on 15 October, featuring 127 universities across 14 zones.

The second phase of the men’s tournament will see champions from each zone and four semi-finalists from the previous HEC intervarsity tournament competing to enhance player skills, with further details to be announced soon. The MoU also outlines opportunities for top performers to join the HEC side in PCB-organized tournaments during the 2024-25 season and to receive scholarships from their respective universities.

Director – Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with HEC, emphasizing the tournament’s role in developing future cricket talent in Pakistan. Niazi stated, “This is a unique opportunity for young cricketers to represent their universities on a national stage and for many, this could be the first step towards a professional cricketing career.”