The first ever National Cricket Academy set up by PCB along with Pakistan Juniors Academy and the Regional Cricket Academies will start functioning simultaneously from May 14, 2001 at Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi and Peshawar. The Regional Academy, Lahore, however will start at Sheikhupura from June 1, 2001.

Whereas the Academies will start functioning on 14th May 2001, their formal inauguration is on staggered dates, as given. At the inauguration, former test players, former officials of the board and other related dignitaries available locally at each city are being invited.

The formal inauguration of the National Cricket Academy and Pakistan Juniors Academy at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore will be held on May 14, 2001 at 5 p.m. Former Test cricketer and Honorary Secretary BCCP, Ijaz Butt will be the Chief Guest.

The formal inauguration of the Regional Academy at Karachi will be held at National Stadium, Karachi on May 15 at 5 p.m., with Mr Omar Kureishi, the commentator, writer and well known cricket personality as the Chief Guest.

Former Chairman of PCB, Mr. Khalid Mahmood, will be the Chief Guest at the formal inauguration of the Regional Academy, Rawalpindi at the KRL Cricket Ground, Rawalpindi.

Governor NWFP, Lt. General Iftikhar Hussain, will be the Chief Guest at the formal inauguration of Peshawar Regional Academy at Arbab Niaz Stadium on May 18 at 5 p.m. Chairman PCB, Lt. General Tauqir Zia will also be present on this occasion.

PCB has already announced 22 players for the National Academy, 24 for the Pakistan Juniors Academy at Lahore, 28 for Regional Academy at Karachi, 21 for Rawalpindi Regional Academy and 27 for Regional Academy at Peshawar.

The objective of the National Academies, being set up for the first time by PCB, is to prepare immediate replacements for the national team and also groom a group of junior players, built around those who have represented Pakistan in the Under 15, Under 17, and Under 19 teams. The Academies will also act as finishing schools to prepare and groom players in the art of batting, bowling and fielding under the panel of coaches headed by former Test Cricketer Mudassar Nazar. The National Academy panel of coaches will consist of Mohsin Kamal and Ali Zia, the Pakistan Juniors will have Haroon Rashid and Azhar Khan as the coaches. Sikandar Bakht and Jalaluddin will be the panel of coaches at Karachi, Masood Anwar and Sabih Azhar at Rawalpindi, Farrukh Zaman and Raj Hans are coaches for Peshawar.

PCB will also invite world class players in all departments of the game to give coaching and lectures at the Academy.

The main purpose of the Regional Academies is to groom talent that has been showing good results in domestic cricket tournaments.

Selection of players for all the Academies was based on performances in the domestic season 2000-2001 and their potential for higher level of cricket. The names were finalized by the Chief Coach, with inputs from Haroon Rashid and Farrukh Zaman.

The Syllabus at the National Academy is wholesome. It covers social and communication skills, besides hard core cricket matters.

The present team of these Academies will last for three months. Being the maiden experience of PCB, some teething problems, which may accrue, will be taken care of. Future teams of the Academies will be announced later.


Media Manager
12th May, 2001

© PCB