LAHORE, Jan 30: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced plans on Friday to establish 16 regional academies aimed at discovering untapped cricket talent that could become future stars for the country.
During a joint press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday, Director of the High Performance Center Aqib Javed and Director of Domestic Cricket Abdullah Khurram Niazi explained that these regional academies will serve as foundational nurseries for PCB’s High Performance Centers. The talent hunt program is set to commence on February 11.
The PCB directors confirmed plans for a series of open trials in 15 cities nationwide, seeking to shortlist approximately 350 players for the 16 regional academies, thereby broadening the country’s talent pool of professional cricketers.
A testing panel featuring former Test cricketers Aqib Javed, along with National Cricket Academy coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq, will travel to various venues to conduct the trials starting from February 11.
The trials will kick off at the PCB Ground in Sukkur, where players from the Larkana Region can participate.
The open trials, the first of their kind, will be hosted in the following cities: Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hub District, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Sukkur.
Each of the 16 regions across Pakistan will see up to 24 players shortlisted, who will then engage in a specialized four-week training program at their respective regional headquarters.
Exceptional players will be invited to participate in National Cricket Academy camps and will be fast-tracked through a year-long skills development program in their regions.
Additionally, the selection panel will distribute cash prizes to the best pacer, spinner, and batter at each trial venue.
This initiative aims to fortify the talent pools for intra- and inter-district, regional, and other domestic tournaments.
After the rigorous regional and NCA skill development camps, players will not only be considered for domestic team placements in departmental and regional tournaments but also for HBL PSL selections in seasons extending beyond 2026.
This ambitious scouting program is expected to significantly benefit numerous players by providing them with PCB’s pioneering player development opportunities and transitioning them into professional cricket.
Open trial dates and venues (11 February – 1 May):
- 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
