PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Launches Nationwide Talent Hunt Programme for Schools

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a major step to discover and groom young cricketers as Chairman Mohsin Naqvi officially launched the Talent Hunt Programme for Schools across the country.

The inauguration ceremony was held at Crescent Model High School, Lahore, where Naqvi unveiled the tournament trophy and handed out PCB kit bags to participating teams. He expressed his vision of finding future cricket stars who will not only excel in the sport but also balance their education alongside their passion.

Nationwide Initiative for Young Talent

According to the PCB, the programme has been launched simultaneously in all provinces. Students from across Pakistan will now get the opportunity to showcase their skills through school-based tournaments. Naqvi emphasized that this initiative is aimed at providing equal opportunities for all schools to bring out their best players.

Sharing his personal connection, Naqvi noted that he himself studied at Crescent Model High School and fondly recalled spending countless hours playing on the same ground. He expressed hope that this program would unearth players who would eventually represent Pakistan at the international stage.

School-Level Competitions Underway

On the opening day in Lahore, seven matches were played with 31 schools taking part, including Crescent Model and Crescent Grammar School. While matches in Lahore and Karachi began immediately, other districts will commence fixtures on September 26.

Each school team was selected after an extensive process of trials and training camps supervised by PCB’s regional and district coaches. The programme features two formats: a 40-over tournament followed by two-day matches in a weekend school league.

Building Pathways for Future Cricketers

The PCB has also announced incentives for winning schools in each tournament. More importantly, top-performing students will be fast-tracked into U15, U17, and U19 regional teams and academies, ensuring their talent is nurtured under professional structures.

Mohsin Naqvi stated, “This initiative is about widening our talent pool and ensuring cricket becomes a serious career pathway for students. By expanding talent scouting to educational institutes, we are shaping the next generation of cricket stars.”

He added that this programme would create a positive sporting culture in schools and strengthen the foundation of Pakistan cricket.