Grassroots cricket plays a crucial role in strengthening the game, and many leading cricketing nations have taken significant steps to develop young talent through structured youth programs.
In Pakistan, however, the domestic structure has often posed challenges in nurturing emerging players, and the absence of school-level cricket remains a long-standing issue.
To address this gap, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has ramped up preparations for the upcoming School Cricket Tournament, scheduled for September.
The much-needed tournament is a key part of PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi’s broader vision to promote cricket at the grassroots level.
In this regard, a high-level Zoom meeting was chaired by Director of Domestic Cricket Operations, Abdullah Khurram Niazi, to discuss the necessary arrangements for the tournament.
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The session brought together senior PCB officials, including Junaid Zia, Senior GM Domestic Cricket, and Qasim Paracha, Assistant Manager Domestic.
Regional head coaches such as Aizaz Cheema, Samiullah Niazi, Saqib Faqir, Afaq Raheem, Mansoor Amjad, and Nadeem Afzal also took part in the meeting.
During the session, regional coaches and managers gave updates on their progress, while CricHQ officials explained how the online system would simplify player registration for schools.
Abdullah Khurram Niazi praised the efforts of the regional staff and highlighted that school tournaments are vital for identifying future stars for regional and national teams.
Officials believe the September tournament will be a major step in promoting structured, competitive cricket among students and will lay the foundation for long-term success.
