The cricket talent hunt program, jointly organized by the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and Lahore Qalandars, successfully concluded in Hyderabad and Shaheed Benazirabad. According to Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana, over 7,000 young players participated in the two-day trials, proving that the youth of Sindh possess not only a deep passion for cricket but also the potential to represent Pakistan at the highest level. 

“This region has always been rich in raw talent, and we take pride in providing both boys and girls from here access to professional cricket opportunities,” Atif Rana said. “With support from the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme, we are forming five regional teams from Sindh, and Hyderabad has contributed another talented group of players.” In Hyderabad, trials were held at the Police Headquarters Ground, Cantt, where after extensive assessments, 16 boys and 15 girls were selected.

The young players showcased their skills in front of coaches, selectors, and Lahore Qalandars management. Coaches Marina Iqbal and Riaz Afridi announced the selected squads after evaluating the participants over two days. Following the successful Hyderabad leg, the PMYP-Qalandars talent hunt moved to Shaheed Benazirabad, where an equally enthusiastic response was witnessed from young cricket hopefuls.

The energy, determination, and passion displayed by both boys and girls were highly commendable. After competitive trials, a 17-member boys’ team and a 15-member girls’ team were finalized from Shaheed Benazirabad, representing the most promising talent from the region. The selected players from both cities expressed their gratitude to the PMYP and Lahore Qalandars for bringing this platform to their doorstep and vowed to perform their best in the upcoming competitions. 

The squads will now begin preparations for the upcoming regional tournaments as part of the broader PMYP–Lahore Qalandars talent development initiative, which aims to identify and nurture cricketing talent from all parts of Pakistan, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)