Pakistan’s cricketing pulse found in the streets of Quetta, Karachi & Hyderabad | Sports

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In Pakistani cricket, it is very rare that a development program promises to join the country and in fact provides not only in numbers, but also in hope, access and change. The ongoing Lahore Qalandars Prime Minister Youth Program (PMYP) Cricket Talent Hunt is a move that does not just mark the boxes, re -prepares the map from which the future of Pakistan will come.

From Quetta to Karachi, and now Hyderabad, the trials have exceeded mere choice. They are a revolution in motion, not only for cricketing skills, but also for the lower levels of sports in Pakistan. The total volume of participation, 17,000 in Quetta, 15,000 in Karachi, thousands more in Hyderabad, are not just one statistics. This is a statement. A statement that the spirit of cricket in Pakistan is not limited to some elite academies or cities. It breathes in the dusty fields of Balochistan, in the concrete patch of the inner city of Karachi, and in the narrow streets of Hyderabad.

The movement, headed by Lahore Qalandars and has been approved by the federal government by PMYP, is detecting the capabilities that we have seen only with our dreams, raw, hungry, restless, but full of abilities. This reminds me of the legends of football streets, such as seen in Rio’s fuels or Kasa Blanka’s Back Street, which made it bigger because someone believes in their stir. In Pakistan, we were rarely believed so far.

What makes this effort more meaningful is its structure. Two separate teams, boys and girls are being formed from each region. Yes, girls too. It is another revolution within a revolution. For a cricket culture so longor skewed in Favor of Men, this talent hunt hint clearly: Pakistan’s nex cricket Icon Couild Justice just as like a girl from Karachi or hyderabad, not just a boy from lahore.

The recently concluded Karachi trials, hosted at Ned University, were a dynamic celebration of this comprehensive spirit. In the cautious eyes of coaches Marina Iqbal and Riaz Afridi, and with the leadership of Qalandars CEO Atif Rana, the city watched the announcement of two complete squads of 15 players. These names can be unknown to the wider people today, but assure, they are the names you can see on national jerseys tomorrow.

The same story repeated in Hyderabad, where the left coaches and selectors of energy, enthusiasm and raw skills were once again stunned. These cities are not of irregularities, they are the heartbeat of Pakistani cricket that has long been ignored.

Now, with the selection of each team, a new dream begins. These are not just a test squad. They are a new cricketing ecosystem.

Atif Rana is not only a concept of this model a decade ago but deserves a lot of reputation to stick to it. The Lahore Qalandars’ player development program was always about the badge. Today, this is an open forest. Its statement, that the move has gained the confidence of 15,000 boys and girls in Karachi alone, is not proud.

This is a fact that every test pitch full of capacity is supported and every hopeful young player catchs his cut with a dream in his eyes.

Partnership with the Prime Minister’s Youth Program has extended the move to the national level. For once, political will and cricketing wisdom is in harmony. Rana Meshed’s announcement of the scheduled National Youth Games in August 2025 is another important sign. It indicates continuity, not only a media event, but a pipeline that is solid somewhere.

But let’s not show that work has been done. These trials will now have to provide permanent regional tournaments. Nurturing selected players is essential, not only once but over time. At the same place, the Lahore Qalandars High Performance Center arrives. Now this cannot be the last school for the elite of Lahore. It should be ready at the National Excellence Center.

We have already suffered a high profile talent, sometimes more than a substance. But it feels different. It is being made with a sweat, structure and sincerity.

After the trials are moving forward with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, after that after Azad Kashmir and Gilgit -Baltistan, one thing is certain: the net has never been expanded. And when you put a wider net, you catch greatness that you never knew.

So, here is for a young boy from Gwadar who bowled with Wasim Akram’s swing but he never had a coach. Here is for a Larkana girl who can bat like a Bismah Marov but never had a platform. Here is for dreamers. Lahore Qalandars and PMYP have opened the door. The time has come for the rest of us to help keep it open.

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