LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has installed a state-of-the-art Trueman-3 bowling machine at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) as part of its continued efforts to provide players with modern training facilities and match-simulation practice.
The advanced bowling machine displays a high-contrast LED animation of a bowler on the front screen, which synchronises exactly with the release of the ball. The bowler animations are based on legitimate bowling actions, allowing batters to work on their triggers, decision-making and batting sequences in conditions close to a match environment.
The machine allows coaches and players to adjust line, length, speed, swing and height, while individual balls, overs and spells can also be saved and used in sequence or shuffled to create random match-like scenarios.
Director High-Performance Aqib Javed said, “The Trueman-3 machine is the latest technology and we are the first cricket board to use it. In traditional bowling machines, it is often difficult for players to adjust to the release point of the bowler, their trigger movements and the timing of when to get ready.”
Aqib said, “The advantage of this machine is that the batter can see the bowler’s video on the screen and synchronise himself accordingly. At the same time, the machine can be programmed according to a batter’s requirement, which helps in preparing the player very close to a match situation.”
Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha, who faced deliveries from the machine at the NCA talking to PCB Digital said, “The biggest advantage of this machine is that the batter can relate his practice to a match situation. As cricket is moving towards the modern day, new shots and new methods are being introduced and this machine helps us prepare for those challenges.”
Agha said, “It feels like a bowler is running in and bowling. The ball comes with an action, so you have to match your timing like you do in a match. I think this technology will help batters improve further and we will benefit even more from it in future.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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