LAHORE (Abdul Basit): The Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP), in collaboration with the Pakistan Super League’s most valued franchise, Lahore Qalandars, has announced the commencement of the PMYP Talent Hunt National League 2025, scheduled to begin on December 4 in Islamabad, following the completion of an extensive and record-breaking nationwide talent identification drive.
This historic programme, one of the largest and most inclusive cricket talent hunts ever undertaken in Pakistan, received an overwhelming response as hundreds of thousands of young male and female cricketers aged 15 to 25 participated in open trials across all provinces, stretching from the deep south to the northernmost regions of the country.
The two-month talent hunt was designed to build a transparent, merit-based, and accessible pathway for the next generation of professional cricketers. After rigorous technical assessments and performance-based evaluations, PMYP successfully formed five male and five female provincial squads representing Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and GB/Federal/Kashmir.
The provincial stage featured 100 competitive matches played over 25 days, with dual fixtures held daily at separate venues for men and women. This phase served as the formal performance assessment for the shortlisted cricketers and helped identify the finest talent emerging from each region. With the conclusion of the provincial round, the best performers, both male and female, have now been shortlisted for the National Tournament 2025, which begins on December 4 at the state-of-the-art Lahore Qalandars High-Performance Center located in Capital Smart City, Islamabad. A total of 20 teams (10 male and 10 female), with two teams from each province, will compete in the national stage.
The cricket segment of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme is being operationally led by the Lahore Qalandars, widely regarded as Pakistan’s most advanced organisation in structured cricket development. Their responsibilities include talent scouting, skill assessment, structured coaching, and high-performance management, ensuring that promising young athletes are groomed to professional standards.
Speaking about the initiative, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, Chairman of PMYP, said: “I am delighted that we have successfully implemented the Prime Minister’s vision through this programme. It is a matter of pride that we are guiding our youth toward growth and opportunity. Hundreds of thousands of young players have entered the system through these trials.
“With Lahore Qalandars’ expertise, the pathway from grassroots to professional cricket has become more structured and within reach for youth across Pakistan. I sincerely appreciate Lahore Qalandars for their partnership and exceptional role in helping achieve this national objective,” Rana Mashhood added.
Atif Naeem Rana, CEO of Lahore Qalandars, remarked: “It gives me immense pleasure that our franchise is contributing to the Prime Minister’s vision. Through our collaboration with PMYP and the leadership of Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, we have realised a shared goal that is: Empowering Pakistan’s youth and strengthening cricket development nationwide. The platform created through this programme will allow emerging players to pursue professional careers and fulfil their potential.”
Awais Rauf of University of Lahore has lauded the PMYP and Lahore Qalandars for creating meaningful and accessible opportunities for young cricketers across the country. “Credit goes to PMYP and Lahore Qalandars for launching such a transformative programme for the youth,” he said, adding that the partnership between the University of Lahore and Lahore Qalandars ‘feels natural and deeply aligned with the goal of nurturing emerging talent’.
He said that the high-performance centres established by the Qalandars are ‘changing lives and helping young players turn their dreams into reality’. He emphasised that similar high-performance centres should be established nationwide to ensure equal access to quality training and development for the youth.
English