Lahore Qalandars Karachi trials conclude with exciting new talent

Karachi trials conclude with exciting new talent

Lahore Qalandars & PM Youth Program unveil boys and girls cricket teams

Asher Butt

The cricketing fever continues to rise as the Karachi leg of the nationwide talent hunt—jointly spearheaded by Lahore Qalandars and the Prime Minister’s Youth Program (PMYP)—concluded on a high note at NED University. Over two action-packed days, thousands of passionate young cricketers from across the city showcased their skills in hopes of earning a place in the Qalandars’ development setup.

Following the trials, a 15-member boys and girls team was officially announced by Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana, and head coaches Marina Iqbal and Riaz Afridi.

“The massive turnout in Karachi is a testament to the youth’s trust in the Lahore Qalandars system,” said Atif Rana. “Our journey began a decade ago, and we’re proud to have produced top-tier national players through this very initiative. The Prime Minister’s backing has given us the strength to take this movement nationwide.”

Rana shared that nearly 15,000 male and female cricketers participated in Karachi alone—making it one of the most vibrant and talent-rich trials to date. From Karachi, the talent hunt will now move to Hyderabad, with plans to form five teams from various regions of Sindh.

Under this national initiative, five regional teams will be selected from each province, as well as Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. These teams will compete in regional tournaments, with top performers progressing to the national level. The best of the best will then be trained at the Lahore Qalandars High-Performance Center—a breeding ground for future stars.

Raw Talent on Display

Coaches Marina Iqbal and Riaz Afridi lauded the energy and talent on display in Karachi. “We witnessed some incredibly gifted players. This initiative by PMYP and Lahore Qalandars is not just timely but crucial for Pakistan’s cricketing future,” said Marina.

The selected girls’ team from Karachi features:

Yesri Aamir, Alizeh Sabir, Arija Haseeb, Aamna Zahid, Taskeen Fatima, Kainat Iman, Aneza Arif, Syeda Batool Fatima, Shabnam Hayat, Masooma Jafri, Ubeera Riaz, Faiqa Tariq, Arij Aamir, Maryam Ahmed, and Isha Naeem.

The boys’ team includes:

Arman Shehzad, Abdullah Javed, Muhammad Siddiq, Umar Farooq, Zain Anwar, Hamza Malik, Ali Shoaib, M. Shaheer, M. Furman, Naveedullah, Syed Zain, Abdul Rauf, Muaz Shah Afridi, Abdul Jaleel, and Syed Rehan Shah.

A dream come true for many

The newly selected players expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman PMYP Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and the entire Lahore Qalandars leadership, including CEO Atif Rana and COO Sameen Rana, for giving them this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Many of them called this moment a “dream come true,” and pledged to give their best to rise through the ranks and represent Pakistan at the highest level.

With the Karachi trials now complete, the talent hunt moves forward—bringing hope, opportunity, and the promise of a brighter cricketing future for youth across the nation.