LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced to hold nationwide trials in collaboration with six Cricket Associations (CA) next month in an attempt to develop a strong talent pool of women cricketers and increase the participation of teenage girls.
The trials will be conducted by highly trained coaches, including former Test and first-class cricketers, for three age groups: U19, which includes players born on or after September 1, 2003; emerging, which includes players aged 19 to 24; and seniors, which includes players aged 25 to 28.
Players who are members of the PCB’s regional academy system are not eligible for these trials in order to ensure that as many girls and young women as possible participate. This comes after the PCB declared that approximately 100 women cricketers will compete in the domestic cricket season of 2022-23.
With the ICC U19 T20 Women’s World Cup planned to be held in South Africa in February 2023 and a jam-packed national women’s side schedule, these trials will further help in feeding the talent pool and developing the bench strength across all rungs.
The following is the schedule of trials by CAs. Click here for the detailed schedule.
Balochistan: 12 May
Central Punjab: 6-9 May
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 9-11 May
Northern: 10-17 May
Sindh: 18-28 May
Southern Punjab: 10-12 May
Pakistani captain Bismah Maroof commented on the initiative taken by the PCB, saying this idea will take cricket to doorsteps.
“When I started to play cricket, there were not enough avenues for girls to take up this sport. This initiative takes cricket to the doorstep of every aspiring cricketer, and bodes well for the development of women’s cricket in the country,” she was quoted as saying.
“There is a strong interest in young girls for this game and with proper coaching, training and facilities, they will surely do wonders for the country.”
It is pertinent to mention here that the PCB will announce the details for the trials in Gilgit Baltistan in due course.
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