Tag: PCB

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) management shared insights into its decade-long progress, headed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer, here on Wednesday at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The inaugural season of Pakistan’s first franchise-based league, PSL, kicked off in 2016 with a glitzy opening ceremony held at the Dubai Sports City Stadium.

Initially, five teams participated in the tournament: Islamabad United, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Lahore Qalandars, and Karachi Kings. However, in 2018, another team, Multan Sultans, was added to the competition, making the league a six-team tournament.

The 10th edition of the tournament, named PSL X, ran from April 11 to May 25 and featured a total of 34 matches, marking the most successful edition in the tournament’s history.

The Cricket Board has also shared the salient features of PSL X during the meeting.

“An impressive 647.25% increase in live streaming from PSL 9 to PSL X, highlighting the growing popularity of the league. In total, fans in Pakistan watched 48.5 billion cumulative minutes across live streaming platforms,” PCB stated.

“The PSL Playoffs and Final garnered 511 million views within the country, showcasing strong viewer engagement. Notably, 53% of the audience came from urban areas, while 47% were from rural regions,” it added.

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Moreover, the statement noted that PSL X also garnered a massive social media following through the tournament’s online content.

“The league has also amassed a substantial social media following, with 22 million fans engaging with PSL content online,” the cricket governing body said.

During the meeting, the management of the Marquee League demonstrated data and analytics regarding the PSL’s progress over the years. The workshop also reflected on the statistical analysis between the ninth and tenth editions of the league.

Speaking on occasion, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi praised PSL standards while calling the tournament a symbol of determination.

“The Pakistan Super League has not only grown into a premier cricketing brand but has also served as a symbol of resilience, hope, and unity during challenging times, he said.

“As we look to the future, the PCB remains committed to strengthening and evolving the league further. We envision an even more competitive, inclusive and globally engaging tournament that continues to bring joy to cricket fans and honour to Pakistan,” Mohsin Naqvi added.

PCB’s CEO, Salman Naseer, lauded PSL X’s digital engagement, emphasizing the significant increase in live streaming during the tournament.

“The substantial growth in digital engagement, particularly the 647 per cent surge in live streaming, is a testament to the league’s increasing popularity among cricket fans, ” he said.

“PSL is not just a tournament, it’s a movement that unites fans across the globe. As we look ahead towards the next decade, we cannot wait to unravel new stories and thrilling experiences for the fans. Exciting times ahead!” Salman Naseer concluded.

READ: Pakistan to lock horns with India on THIS date in Asia Cup 2025: reports

LAHORE: The second phase of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) skill development camp is underway here at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground on Tuesday.

The 15 players part of the camp took part in various training sessions under the supervision of the coaches.

The coaches worked on the players’ batting and bowling skills at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The second phase players include Aamer Jamal, Ali Raza, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Hussain Talat, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Faiq, Mohammad Nawaz, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shahid Aziz, and Yasir Khan.

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For the unversed, the 20-day skill development camp, organised by the PCB, is being held in three phases and is designed to fine-tune the skills of national cricketers across all formats. A total of 47 players are expected to participate throughout the program.

The first batch of the camp concluded on Saturday, 21 June, which featured 15 players.

The players in the first phase of the camp included Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The second phase of the camp will continue until 28 June, while the third phase will commence on 30 June.

The PCB officials view skill development initiative as part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

READ: WATCH: Players participate in scenario-based matches at PCB skill development camp

LAHORE: National cricketers participated in scenario-based practice matches under the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) skill development initiative here at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) ground on Friday.

During the scenario-based matches, coaches assigned various tasks to players at the camp.

For the unversed, the 20-day skill development camp, organised by the PCB, is being held in three phases and is designed to fine-tune the skills of national cricketers across all formats. A total of 47 players are expected to participate throughout the program.

Players will engage in fitness and fielding sessions from 6:00 to 8:00 AM. Additionally, skill-based sessions (net practice) are scheduled from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM at both the LCCA Ground and NCA, taking place from Monday to Thursday.

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According to the schedule, Phase 1 of the camp, running from June 16 to 21, features 15 players, including Babar.

The players in the first phase of the camp include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The second phase of the camp is set to begin on June 23, followed by Phase 3 on June 30, with fresh player batches expected to be announced in the coming days.

The PCB officials view this initiative as part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

READ: Babar Azam opts out of PCB’s skills development camp after two days

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Skills Development Camp continued on day three in Lahore on Wednesday, with players actively taking part in various sessions.

The national cricketers sharpened their skills in an intense training session under the supervision of the coaches at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

Players participated in both indoor and outdoor practice sessions, beginning their day with fielding and fitness drills in the morning.

Later, bowlers and batters took part in dedicated bowling and batting sessions, closely observed by the coaching staff.

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The 20-day Skills Development camp will feature 47 men’s cricketers undergoing rigorous training and fitness sessions. The first batch of 15 players will participate till 21 June.

The players attending the first phase of the camp include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The second and third phases of the camp will begin on June 23 and June 30, respectively, with additional players expected to join. The names of the second and third batch of players will be announced in due course.

Players will engage in fitness and fielding sessions from 6:00 to 8:00 AM. Additionally, skill-based sessions (net practice) are scheduled from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM at both the LCCA Ground and NCA, taking place from Monday to Thursday.

According to the PCB officials, this initiative is part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

READ: Bangladesh stutter against Sri Lanka after Mushfiqur, Litton stand

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Skills Development Camp kicked off in Lahore on Monday, with prominent national stars including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan actively participating on day one.

The camp, being held at the LCCA Ground under the supervision of National Cricket Academy (NCA) coaches, is structured in three phases.

The opening phase features 15 players and is focused on fine-tuning skills in fielding, batting, and fitness.

The first session of the day began with high-intensity fielding drills, where both Babar and Rizwan were seen leading from the front.

Batting coach Hanif Malik, alongside other NCA coaches, conducted technical batting sessions aimed at refining players’ technique and shot selection. Gym work and strength training were also part of the routine.

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According to a PCB spokesperson, the primary objective of the camp is to enhance individual skill levels and prepare players for upcoming domestic and international assignments.

The players attending the first phase include: Aamir Jamal, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Babar Azam, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Muqeem.

The afternoon session on Day 1 focused on bowling and fielding-specific drills, ensuring a comprehensive workload for the participants.

The second and third phases of the camp will begin on June 23 and June 30, respectively, with additional players expected to join.

PCB officials say this initiative is part of a broader strategy to invest in long-term player development through consistent, skill-based training and proper fitness management, aimed at strengthening Pakistan’s talent pool.

READ: MLC 2025: Haris Rauf, Xavier Bartlett star as Unicorns defeat MI New York

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday confirmed one change to the ‘intact’ national selection committee.

The PCB spokesman said in an official statement that the Board has only replaced the data analyst, who will have no voting rights during team selection.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the national selection committee remains intact,” the board said in an official statement.

According to PCB, Data analyst Hassan Cheema has been replaced by Usman Hashmi to assist the committee.

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Apart from one change, the committee remains the same. The names include Aqib Javed, Aleem Dar, Asad Shafiq, and Azhar Ali.

It is pertinent to mention that the selection committee operates without a designated head, with all four members holding equal decision-making power.

Furthermore, the committee will consult coaches and captains of the respective teams before squad finalisation.

For the unversed, the announcement came in response to recent media reports that indicated a major overhaul of the selection committee, which suggested the potential removal of former Test cricketers Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq.

Earlier, the reports had indicated their possible replacement with former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht.

National Selection Committee Members:

– Aqib Javed (Member)

– Aleem Dar (Member)

– Asad Shafiq (Member)

– Azhar Ali (Member)

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LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced the new team management ahead of the T20I series against Bangladesh, featuring new batting and bowling coaches. 

The notable omission in team management was assistant coach Azhar Mehmood, who was also the frontrunner for becoming the head coach of the Pakistan Cricket Team.

A month earlier, Azhar Mehmood expressed his ambition to become the head coach in an interview, stating, “I’m definitely going to apply for the Pakistan team head coach role.”

However, Azhar could not secure the position as Mike Hesson was named as the new head coach of the Pakistan team.

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PCB has made several changes to the coaching staff. Former Australian pacer Ashley Noffke has been appointed as the bowling coach, while Hanif Malik will assume the charge of batting coach.

The 47-year-old, who played an ODI and two T20 internationals for Australia across a 12-year playing career, has a wealth of coaching experience.  He has built a solid reputation as a coach, including a role within the coaching staff of the Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League.

Mohammad Masroor and Cliffe Deacon have retained their positions as fielding coach and physio, respectively, while Imranullah has been appointed as strength and conditioning coach, and Naveed Akram Cheema will act as team manager.

It is pertinent to mention that the upcoming three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The first T20I will be played here on May 28, with the second and third T20Is scheduled on May 30 and June 1, respectively.

Pakistan team management for Bangladesh Series:

Naveed Akram Cheema (team manager), Mike Hesson (head coach), Hanif Malik (batting coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Mohammad Masroor (fielding coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (strength & conditioning coach), Talha Ejaz (team analyst), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor), Muhammad Ehsan (masseur), Irtaza Kumail (security manager) and Syed Naeem Ahmed (media manager)

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh T20Is

Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper) and Saim Ayub.

READ: PCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan-Bangladesh series

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday announced the appointment of former Test fast bowler Aqib Javed as the Director High-Performance.

Javed recently served as Pakistan’s interim head coach for all formats until the tour of New Zealand in April.

He was initially appointed as the interim head coach for white-ball formats, but was also given responsibilities for the red-ball side during the tour of South Africa.

“To strengthen our cricket infrastructure, we are pleased to welcome Aqib Javed as the Director of High Performance,” said PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

“His appointment, alongside Mike Hesson as the white-ball Head Coach, marks a significant step forward in our strategic vision for Pakistan Cricket.

“Together, their expertise and leadership will play a pivotal role in the development, evolution and success of our national setup.”

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It’s worth noting that Aqib Javed represented Pakistan in 22 Tests and 163 ODIs from 1988 to 1998.

In addition to his recent role as the interim head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team, he previously served as the bowling coach during Pakistan’s successful campaign in the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009.

Last year, he worked with the Sri Lanka men’s team as their bowling coach.

Before that, he oversaw the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they earned ODI status and qualified for the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia during his tenure as head coach.

Furthermore, he was the coach of Pakistan’s Under-19 team when they won the U19 World Cup in 2004.

READ: Mike Hesson appointed as white-ball head coach of Pakistan

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has been engaged in active discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for Bangladesh’s upcoming white-ball tour of Pakistan later this month.

The tensions between India and Pakistan reached fever-pitch following an attack last month in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) town of Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists.

However, the situation returned to normal after an immediate ceasefire on Saturday, following days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and artillery attacks.

In a statement, the Bangladesh Cricket Board emphasized the safety and security of its players as the board’s foremost priority.

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“The BCB wishes to reiterate that the safety and security of its players and support staff remain the Board’s highest priority,” the board said in an official statement on Saturday.

“All decisions concerning the tour will be made with careful consideration of the current situation in Pakistan, ensuring they align with the best interests of the team and Bangladesh cricket,” it added.

It is pertinent to mention that Bangladesh are scheduled to head to Pakistan on 21 May for a five-match T20I series. However, the tensions between India and Pakistan have cast doubt on this tour.

Bangladesh will play across two venues in Pakistan, Faisalabad and Lahore. Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad will stage the first and second T20Is of the series, scheduled.

The Bangladesh team is set to travel to Dubai later this week for a two-match T20I series.

Nahid Rana and Rishad Hossain, both part of PSL 10, returned home on Friday after the league’s indefinite postponement.

Both players will leave for the UAE with the rest of the Bangladesh squad on Wednesday.

However, Rishad and Nahid will be unavailable if the PSL resumes, mainly due to Bangladesh’s international commitments.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced the relocation of the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), citing rising tensions between Pakistan and India.

In a statement, the cricket board confirmed that the remaining eight matches of PSL 10 including playoffs and the final, have been moved to the UAE. The details regarding dates and venues will be announced later.

“The PCB today confirms that the remaining fixtures of the HBL PSL X have been shifted to the UAE. As such, the last eight fixtures, which were previously scheduled in Rawalpindi, Multan and Lahore will now be staged in the UAE,” the PCB said in a statement.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“The exact schedule of matches, outlining the dates and venues, will be shared in due course,” it added.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi stated that the board’s decision to shift matches was driven by the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India, which raised serious concerns.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi explained that the board’s decision to relocate the remaining PSL 10 matches was driven by the escalating tensions between Pakistan and India.

“The PCB has always stood by the position that politics and sports need to be kept apart.

“However, in view of the extremely irresponsible and dangerous Indian act of targeting the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, which was manifestly done to disrupt the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League X, the PCB has decided to shift the remaining matches to UAE.

This is so that the domestic as well as foreign cricketers, who are our precious guests, can be saved from the possible reckless targeting by India,” he said.

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Mohsin Naqvi emphasized the well-being of all players participating in the marquee event.

“As a responsible organisation that has overcome adversities repeatedly and ensured that the game of cricket flourishes, it was important for us to ensure the mental well-being of all players participating in the HBL PSL,” said Mohsin Naqvi.

“Like in the past, we hope that our stakeholders will rally with us to further the best interests of the tournament, our players and the fans. We are committed to ensuring that the league continues to thrive,” he concluded.

Remaining Fixtures of PSL 10

• Karachi Kings v Peshawar Zalmi
• Peshawar Zalmi v Lahore Qalandars
• Islamabad United v Karachi Kings
• Multan Sultans v Quetta Gladiators
• Qualifier
• Eliminator 1
• Eliminator 2
• Final

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