The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has embarked on a large scale project to help junior cricketers outside the field with a focus on real-world skills. In the same program, PCB will support the sporting and academic development of young players, who will be provided with adequate education on top of professional training in the field of cricket.
Younger talent, between the ages of Under-15 to Under-19, will be sent to specific academies, where they will receive year-round training alongside formal education. The PCB will provide all the expenses, such as admissions and annual tuition, so that players can not only be concerned with studies and sports but also not be burdened with expenses.
The Sialkot Academy will serve the Under-15 section, Faisalabad the Under-17 and Multan the Under-19. This will be based on regional cricket performances to select. In the meantime, the academy at Karachi has been temporarily reposed to Pakistan women team, the Shaheens, and the A squad, which trains structured athletes as well to play at the national level.
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This is two-way approach to overcome the age old dilemma of aspiring cricketers juggling between academics and sport. With its sponsorship of junior cricketers in academics and professionally, the PCB strengthens its mission statement of instilling a well-rounded talent pool in cricketers that would serve the Pakistan cricket team on and off the field.
