Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled plans for a comprehensive talent hunt program starting February 11, aimed at identifying and nurturing cricket talent across the country. The initiative, which includes open trials in 15 cities, seeks to shortlist around 350 players for 16 regional academies, thus expanding the professional cricket talent pool in Pakistan.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, a panel of former Test cricketers, including PCB Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, and coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq, will conduct the trials. The program will kick off at the PCB Ground in Sukkur, where players from the Larkana Region are invited to participate. The trials will be held in cities such as Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, and Islamabad, among others.

The selection process will result in the shortlisting of up to 24 players for each region, who will then receive a four-week specialized training program. Outstanding players will advance to National Cricket Academy camps and participate in a year-long skills development program in their respective regions.

Additionally, standout performers in each trial category—pacer, spinner, and batter—will receive cash prizes. This initiative supports the 16 regions in enhancing their talent pools for various tournaments and offers a pathway for players to join domestic teams and potentially be selected for the HBL Pakistan Super League in the coming years.

The PCB aims to transform this talent hunt into a sustainable player development initiative, benefitting numerous aspiring cricketers in entering the professional realm. The trials are scheduled to run from February 11 to May 1, across various venues.