The Pakistan Cricket Board has launched a countrywide hunt of talent that will involve schools countrywide and more than 400 schools will join the expedition across 39 districts. The project is targeted at the early identification of young talent and consolidation of the game at the grassroots.
During the initial period, the testing will be carried at a number of selected schools and will be facilitated by more than 60 certified coaches. They will aim at finding expertise, personality and learning capability. After these assessments a 40 over tournament will be conducted in the third week of September where school teams will enter to see where they will enter into the next stage.
The top 100 sides of this tournament will be further promoted into the Weekend Schools League, and so a proper system of promotion will be available in the future to emerging cricketers. To ensure uniform standards, coaches are being trained in special techniques of evaluation.
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Cricket school models in other countries such as India and Australia have proven very successful and this is what Pakistan wants to replicate as well. Previously this year, the board hosted the biggest drive in its history which included 1,847 schools and colleges across the country that helped generate talents such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi.
The officials think that this programme will guarantee a continuous inflow of young talent in a futuristic way thus assisting Pakistan in competing effectively against others more regularly. The Pakistan Cricket Board will exercise close observation of trials and tournaments, in a bid to ensure due transparency and quality.
