The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially launched its first-ever Talent Hunt Programme for Schools, featuring 405 school teams from 39 districts across Pakistan. Designed to unearth the next generation of cricketing talent, the initiative includes a two-phase competition beginning in September 2025, combining a red-ball 40-over tournament with a two-day Weekend School League.
The programme marks a major milestone for grassroots cricket in the country and is expected to have long-term implications for player development, infrastructure improvement, and regional representation in the national cricketing ecosystem.
🏏 PCB Talent Hunt Programme for Schools – Key Highlights
405 schools from 39 districts selected after on-ground infrastructure review
Phase 1: Red-ball 40-over tournament starting 20 September 2025
Phase 2: Weekend School League featuring two-day matches in winter
Champion school of the 40-over tournament to receive an overseas tour
Top performers eligible for U15, U17 regional teams and High-Performance camps
PCB to provide coaching support, infrastructure rehab, and official match operations
📅 Programme Structure and Timeline
The first phase begins with trials conducted by 60 PCB coaches across all districts, followed by training camps at the school level. The 40-over district-level league kicks off on 20 September 2025, with inter-district matches determining which schools advance to the knockout rounds, including quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final.
The winner of the 40-over tournament will earn an overseas tour, while approximately the top 100 schools will qualify for the two-day Weekend School League, scheduled for winter.
🎯 Talent Identification and Pathway Opportunities
The programme’s standout performers will be scouted by PCB coaches and offered direct pathways into:
High-Performance training camps at PCB academies
Regional U15 and U17 pathway tournaments
The initiative aims to create a seamless bridge between school-level cricket and Pakistan’s national pipeline. PCB will also support school ground rehabilitation, supply kits and coaching resources, and manage logistics through its regional and district-level staff.
🗣️ PCB’s Vision for Schools Cricket
“The Pakistan Cricket Board is delighted to begin the groundbreaking Talent Hunt Programme for Schools. We will provide them all kinds of support in order to scout talent at school level,” said Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director Domestic Cricket Operations, PCB.
“The goal is to provide school-going children with an opportunity to play the sport in an organised and professional manner. Over 150 school grounds have already been earmarked for rehabilitation with PCB funding.”
📍 Breakdown of Participating Schools
Punjab (134 schools)
Lahore (30), Faisalabad (16), Sialkot (11), Gujranwala (11), Bahawalpur (10), Rahim Yar Khan (10), Dera Ghazi Khan (10), Multan (10), Rawalpindi (6), Sargodha (10), Sahiwal (10)
Sindh (82 schools)
Karachi (38), Hyderabad (12), Sukkur (8), Mirpurkhas (8), Shaheed Benazirabad (8), Larkana (8)
Balochistan (81 schools)
Quetta (16), Naseerabad (12), Pishin (10), Khuzdar (10), Lasbela (6), Loralai (6), Jaffarabad (6), Nushki (5), Killa Abdullah (5), Sibi (5)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (68 schools)
Mansehra (12), Swabi (12), Peshawar (10), Bannu (8), Swat (8), Mardan (8), Kohat (7), Abbottabad (5)
Islamabad & Gilgit Baltistan (28 schools)
Islamabad (20), Gilgit Baltistan (8)
Azad Jammu & Kashmir (12 schools)
Mirpur (8), Muzaffarabad (4)
Through this programme, the PCB is aiming to institutionalize school cricket in Pakistan with long-term sustainability, ensuring every corner of the country is represented in the national cricket landscape.
