Cricket without boundaries: PMYP–Qalandars talent hunt unites youth

Cricket without boundaries: PMYP–Qalandars talent hunt unites youth

Asher Butt

Something extraordinary happened in Sargodha and Faisalabad this week. In a country where cricket is more than a sport—it’s a heartbeat—over 35,000 young men and women showed up not just to try out, but to dream big. The PMYP–Lahore Qalandars Talent Hunt, a joint initiative between the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and the Lahore Qalandars’ Player Development Program (PDP), drew overwhelming participation, transforming ordinary cricket grounds into arenas of hope and ambition.

Sargodha, the proud land of Shaheens, welcomed more than 15,000 participants, while Faisalabad—Pakistan’s industrial backbone—recorded a staggering 20,000+ aspiring cricketers, each with fire in their eyes and stories behind their swings. The turnout wasn’t just a statistic; it was a testament to untapped potential waiting for a platform.

The beauty of this campaign lies in its inclusivity. From rural towns to urban sprawls, girls and boys lined up shoulder to shoulder, proving once again that cricket in Pakistan knows no boundaries—geographical or social. Managed by Lahore Qalandars’ professional coaches and analysts, the trials were designed to spotlight merit, grit, and game sense—not just reputation.

Atif Rana, CEO of Lahore Qalandars, called it “extraordinary.” He acknowledged not just the players, but the architects behind the program—Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PMYP Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and the entire PMYP team—for trusting the Qalandars to deliver on their legacy. “Our PDP started as a dream. Today, it’s a global model,” Rana noted with pride.

Equally inspiring was Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan’s vision. For him, the trials weren’t just about cricket—they were about nation-building. “This is a strategy for transformation,” he said, “a vehicle for recognition, mentorship, and upward mobility.”

In a landscape often challenged by inequality and resource constraints, the PMYP–Lahore Qalandars Talent Hunt offers more than hope—it offers structure. It’s creating pathways for careers, restoring faith in grassroots development, and reminding Pakistan that greatness can be found anywhere—sometimes in the dust of Sargodha, sometimes on the cement pitches of Faisalabad.

As the campaign moves forward to other regions, one thing is clear: the future of Pakistan cricket isn’t confined to elite academies—it’s waiting in the wings of every forgotten village, every uncut diamond. And this program is making sure they get their turn at the crease.