Nationwide School Cricket Trials Launched by PCB – SUCH TV

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) started a nationwide talent hunt targeting schools across the country. More than 400 schools from 39 districts will take part.

The first phase will see trials at the selected schools. Over 60 coaches will conduct assessments at each location. The aim is to find talented young players early and grow the game at the grassroots level.

Following the trials, a 40-over tournament will begin in the third week of September. Teams from all participating schools will compete. The top 100 teams from the tournament will qualify for the “Weekend Schools League”.

The PCB has been focussing on youth development in recent years. Players such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have benefited from such systems.

Earlier this year, the PCB ran its largest-ever talent hunt involving 1,847 schools and colleges. This programme spread across all provinces. Schools and colleges registered players who took part in the trials.

The PCB insists the programme will help ensure a steady flow of skilled players. This is important for Pakistan’s aim to compete consistently on the international stage.

To maintain quality, coaches will be trained on evaluation criteria. They will look for skill, temperament and potential for development.
School cricket initiatives in countries such as Australia and India has shown significant success. These countries rely on strong competitions at the grassroots level to produce their top players.

The current talent hunt will cover more than 400 schools, making it one of biggest talent hunts ever held in Pakistan.Trials and matches will be monitored by the PCB officials.