Islamabad: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is launching an ambitious nationwide talent hunt program targeting over 400 schools, starting in September. The initiative aims to unearth the next generation of cricketing stars.
The program will feature two main competitions: a 40-over red-ball tournament followed by a weekend school league with two-day matches. From an initial pool of nearly 3,000 interested institutions, 405 schools from 39 districts across Pakistan have been selected based on infrastructure and commitment.
Starting August 20th, 60 PCB coaches will conduct trials in these schools over two weeks to form teams for the 40-over tournament. Participating schools will hold training camps overseen by physical education teachers and district coaches before the tournament commences on September 20th.
The 40-over tournament will see inter-district matches, culminating in knockout rounds. The winning school will earn an overseas tour, and top-performing schools in each district will advance to the weekend league during the winter. Roughly 100 schools are expected to participate in this second stage.
High-performing students from both tournaments will be invited to high-performance camps at PCB academies and may be directly selected for regional under-15 and under-17 teams.
The PCB will also support participating schools by refurbishing cricket grounds, providing equipment, and offering professional umpires. Over 150 school grounds have been identified for potential upgrades.
PCB Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, expressed enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing the board’s commitment to supporting young talent and improving school cricket infrastructure. The program aims to provide structured playing opportunities for school children.
Punjab leads with 134 participating schools, followed by Sindh (82), Balochistan (81), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (68), Islamabad (28), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (12). Within these regions, major cities like Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta have significant representation.