LAHORE: The second edition of the PCB Talent Hunt Programme is successfully underway across 100 districts in Pakistan.
The program was officially inaugurated by Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi on19th September at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where a sizable crowd attended the 40-over match between Beaconhouse and Aitchison.
The growing interest of various schools and students after PCB’s investment in School Cricket has led to another 24 schools joining the tournament, increasing the number of schools from 1400 on 19 September to 1424 now. So far, a total of 489 40-over matches have been played across the country in first week of the tournament.
Young players have showcased some remarkable performances with 83 batters scoring centuries and 216 bowlers taking five or more wickets in an innings. Right-arm fast bowler Asif Khan from IMS sub-campus Mian Mandi in Mohmand district of FATA lit up the tournament when he bagged all 10 wickets against Government High School Akhunzadogan.
On 23rd September, IMS sub-campus posted 264-7 in the allotted 40 over in a PCB Talent Hunt Programme match. In turn, Asif rocked the opposition in his seven over as he dismissed all 10 batters giving away 40 runs in his seven overs. It took them 21 overs in total to bundle out GHS Akhunzadogan on 90 runs. Seven batters were caught, while three were bowled off Asif’s right-arm medium pace.
Another fast bowler, Mohammad Sahil, picked up nine wickets for GHS Bhabhra School in Wah Cantt against National School at Muslim Ground in Rawalpindi. He bowled 5.5 overs to bag 9-39 including a maiden.
Among the batters, eight have breached the 200-run mark with Baitullah Wazir (260) of Dar-e-Arqam Westridge School, Hur Ali Mehdi (255) from Future World School and Fawad Alam (253) from GSI School have gone extra mile by crossing 250-run mark. Other double centurions include Asad Mengal from Khuzdar, Arman Saeed from Lahore, Noman Safdar from Kasur, Imran Ahmed from Gujranwala and Abu Maviya from Islamabad.
In an unprecedented development, the PCB, through the second season of Talent Hunt Programme for Schools, has engaged a total of 21,000 young players in 40-over cricket matches. A number of future stars and professional cricketers will be unearthed from this ecosystem and it will also boost the development of cricket culture at the grassroots level.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026