PMYP–Lahore Qalandars talent hunt draws 15,000+ cricketers in South Punjab

 

PMYP–Lahore Qalandars talent hunt draws 15,000+ cricketers in South Punjab

Bahawalpur and Multan host four-day trials to nurture future stars

Asher Butt

The cricketing spirit of South Punjab was on full display as the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), in partnership with Lahore Qalandars, wrapped up its four-day talent hunt in Bahawalpur and Multan. The initiative attracted over 15,000 aspiring cricketers, including both boys and girls, each with the same dream — to make it to the national cricket stage.

The trials, part of the PM Talent Hunt Youth Sports League supported by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), were designed to unearth promising talent from grassroots levels, particularly from regions often overlooked by mainstream scouting. Hosted at the Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB) and a key venue in Multan, the trials dedicated the first day in each city to male participants and the second day to female cricketers.

Following two days of intense sessions in each city, the coaching panel — led by Lahore Qalandars’ professional staff — finalized 64 players (16 boys and 16 girls from each city) for further development.

“The passion and skill we saw in Bahawalpur and Multan was unmatched,” said Atif Rana, CEO of Lahore Qalandars. “If given the right opportunities, these young athletes can shine on any stage. This initiative is just the beginning of what we hope will be a nationwide movement to revive grassroots cricket.”

Atif Rana extended gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PMYP Chairman Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, and the entire PMYP team for their support, as well as Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kamran, Vice Chancellor of IUB, for his institution’s top-class facilities and hospitality. He also hinted at a new High Performance Academy branch at IUB, with an MoU likely to be signed soon to expand cricket development initiatives in the region.

For the selected players, the opportunity was life-changing. “I can’t believe I made it,” said one of the selected girls from Multan. “We are so grateful to PM Shehbaz Sharif and Lahore Qalandars for coming to our city. We’ll train hard and make Pakistan proud.”

This grassroots initiative aims to provide opportunities beyond the big cities and set up a clear pathway for talented players to reach the professional level. With such an overwhelming response in South Punjab, the PMYP–Lahore Qalandars talent hunt is expected to roll out in other regions soon, creating more chances for young cricketers across Pakistan.