Lahore: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a list of 30 young cricketers selected for the third phase of the U19 Skills Assessment camp, which is set to take place in Multan starting Monday, July 7. The camp, continuing until the end of next month, is a crucial step in preparing players for upcoming international competitions, including the ICC U19 World Cup 2026.
The selection process, supervised by Azhar Ali, Head of Youth Development, involved 65 players initially, who were evaluated through a series of match-based assessments. These assessments spanned two phases, allowing selectors to gauge players’ abilities in batting, bowling, fielding, and tactical awareness.
Of the 30 players advancing to the third phase, 20 were chosen based on their performances in the assessment matches. Additionally, 10 players who have previously represented Pakistan U19 and are eligible for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 have been included. Eligibility for the World Cup requires players to be born on or after September 1, 2006.
The PCB’s structured approach divided the initial pool into two groups, each competing in four matches under competitive conditions. This rigorous evaluation aimed to ensure only the most skilled and tactically aware players proceeded to the next stage.
The upcoming phase of the Skills Assessment camp is designed to hone the technical and mental skills of these young cricketers further, as part of PCB’s strategy to cultivate a robust talent pool. This preparation is not only for domestic events but also for international tournaments like the ACC U19 Asia Cup.
The selected players, in alphabetical order, include Abbas Khan, Abdul Wahab, Ali Hassan Baloch, Asad Umar, Daniyal Ali Khan, Ghulam Haider, Hamza Zahoor, Haroon Khan, Hazrat Ali, Huzaifa Ahsan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Niqab Shafiq, Rana Adeel Mushtaq, Rizwanullah, Saad Sakhawat, Sadeeq Aman, Sameer Minhas, and Yahya Shah.
Additionally, the 10 players who have already represented Pakistan U19 and will join this phase are Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Tahir, Momin Qamar, Tayyab Arif, Umar Zaib, and Usman Khan.