Lahore, 30 January, 2026: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a series of open trials in 15 cities across the country to shortlist around 350 players for 16 regional academies. This initiative aims to expand the talent pool of professional cricketers nationwide.
A panel of former Test cricketers, including PCB Director High Performance Aqib Javed, National Cricket Academy coaches Misbah-ul-Haq and Abdul Razzaq, will conduct the trials from February 11th in Sukkur. Players from Larkana Region can participate at the PCB Ground.
The 15 cities hosting the open trials are Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Hub District, Hyderabad, Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Muzaffarabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, and Sukkur.
The selection panel will shortlist up to 24 players for each of the 16 regions based on their performance in these trials. These selected players will undergo a four-week specialized training program at their respective regional headquarters.
Additionally, the best performers from these camps will be invited to National Cricket Academy (NCA) skill development programs and fast-tracked into professional moulds.
Apart from selecting talent for the regional academies, the selection panel also rewards cash prizes on-site to the top pacer, spinner, and batter at each trial venue.
Through this initiative, the PCB intends to assist 16 regions in expanding their talent pools for intra- and inter-district, regional, and other domestic tournaments. Following rigorous skill development camps, shortlisted players will be recommended for various domestic teams and HBL PSL selections beyond 2026.
This player development program is expected to benefit several talented individuals as they enter the professional cricket arena via this policy and scouting system.