LAHORE, Jan 30: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced plans on Friday to establish 16 regional academies aimed at discovering and nurturing emerging cricket talent.
During a joint press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Director of High Performance Center, Aqib Javed, and Director of Domestic Cricket, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, stated that these academies will serve as the foundation for the PCB’s High Performance Centers. They also announced the commencement of a talent hunt program starting February 11.
Open trials will be held in 15 cities across Pakistan, with the goal of selecting around 350 players for the academies. Former Test cricketers, including PCB Director High Performance Aqib Javed, alongside National Cricket Academy coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq, will oversee the trials set to begin on February 11.
The trials will kick off at the PCB Ground in Sukkur, where players from the Larkana Region can participate. The trials will span the following cities: Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hub District, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Sukkur.
For each of the 16 regions, up to 24 players will be shortlisted and will undergo a four-week training program at their respective regional headquarters.
Post-training, exceptional players will have the opportunity to attend National Cricket Academy camps and participate in a year-long skills development program unique to their region.
Aside from selecting players, the selection panel will offer cash prizes to the best pacer, spinner, and batter at each of the 16 trial venues. The PCB’s initiative is designed to expand the talent pool for intra and inter-regional tournaments and aid the selection process for HBL PSL seasons beyond 2026.
The following are the open trials dates and venues:
11 February – PCB Ground, Sukkur – Larkana Region
12-13 February – Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad – Hyderabad Region
15-16 February – KCCA Stadium, Karachi – Karachi Region
25-26 March – Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur – Bahawalpur Region
28-29 March – Multan Cricket Stadium – Multan Region
1-2 April – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad – Faisalabad Region
4-5 April – LCCA Ground, Lahore – Lahore Region
7-8 April – Faraz Stadium, Sialkot – Sialkot Region
10-11 April – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Rawalpindi Region
13-14 April – Marghzar Cricket Ground – Islamabad Region
16-17 April – Abbottabad Cricket Stadium – Abbottabad Region
19-20 April – Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar – Peshawar Region
22-23 April – Hayatabad Cricket Stadium, Peshawar – FATA Region
25-26 April – Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium – Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region
28-29 April – Bugti Cricket Stadium, Quetta – Quetta Region
1 May – Hub Stadium, Lasbela – Dera Murad Jamali Region
11 February – PCB Ground, Sukkur – Larkana Region
12-13 February – Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad – Hyderabad Region
15-16 February – KCCA Stadium, Karachi – Karachi Region
25-26 March – Dring Stadium, Bahawalpur – Bahawalpur Region
28-29 March – Multan Cricket Stadium – Multan Region
1-2 April – Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad – Faisalabad Region
4-5 April – LCCA Ground, Lahore – Lahore Region
7-8 April – Faraz Stadium, Sialkot – Sialkot Region
10-11 April – Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium – Rawalpindi Region
13-14 April – Marghzar Cricket Ground – Islamabad Region
16-17 April – Abbottabad Cricket Stadium – Abbottabad Region
19-20 April – Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar – Peshawar Region
22-23 April – Hayatabad Cricket Stadium, Peshawar – FATA Region
25-26 April – Muzaffarabad Cricket Stadium – Azad Jammu and Kashmir Region
28-29 April – Bugti Cricket Stadium, Quetta – Quetta Region
1 May – Hub Stadium, Lasbela – Dera Murad Jamali Region
