LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board will run a Future Stars Talent Hunt programme across 15 cities from Feb 11 to May 1 this year, PCB’s director high performance centre Aaqib Javed said on Friday.

“In this programme, former Test cricketers alongside regional coaches will pick the best available players in the trials,” Aaqib said at a press conference in Lahore.

Director domestic cricket Abdullah Khurram was also present on the occasion.

Aaqib said that around 350 players would be selected through the said trials.

“The selected players will attend a comprehensive training programme at the regional academies being established in all 16 PCB regions,” he stated.

“In the next three to four years, best prepared talent will be available to the Pakistan team from this regional academy programme,” the former Pakistan fast bowler added.

“A number of technical changes have been introduced in our domestic cricket which are giving positive results,” he said, adding that NCA biomechanics labs would become operational from Feb 5.

Meanwhile when underlined that the PCB was not investing on clubs which could develop talented players for different national outfits, Abdullah admitted that currently there was no plan for such clubs but added that it would be considered.

Recently, the PCB organised inter-school tournaments across the country and bore all its expenses. However, there was no funding by the PCB when an inter-club tournament started later.

Aaqib said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi had succeeded to get one ground each for the 16 regional bodies, adding “now they will have the infrastructure to continue their cricket activities throughout the year”.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026