Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan and Saim Ayub amongst 47 players taking part in the Skills Development camp at the NCA

[BouncerGuy]

The National Cricket Academy will host a 20-day Skills Development camp from Monday, 16 June, the PCB announced today. A total of 47 men’s cricketers will undergo training and fitness sessions during the camp, with the first batch of 15 players participating until 21 June.

After the conclusion of first phase, 16 players for the second phase will arrive on 22 June and will undergo training sessions from 23 to 28 June. The third and final batch consisting of 16 players will train from 30 June to 5 July.

15 players for 16-21 June camp (in alphabetical order)

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 Moqim

The names of the second and third batch of players will be announced in due course.

Director High-Performance Aqib Javed:

“We have invited 47 players to the 20-day skills camp at the National Cricket Academy following detailed discussions with white-ball head coach Mike Hesson. This is an invaluable opportunity for the players to take a brief pause from competitive cricket and focus on enhancing their fitness and refining key aspects of their game.

“With a busy international calendar ahead, this window allows us to provide targeted support to the players, so they can return better prepared for the challenges to come.

“There is a complete alignment between the coaching staff at the National Cricket Academy and the national men’s team. We are working in close coordination to ensure that every initiative contributes to the long-term progress of Pakistan cricket.

“A central feature of this camp is the one-on-one coaching sessions. These personalised interactions allow each player to engage directly with coaches, understand the finer details of their game and identify areas that need attention. It is about giving players the clarity and tools to improve.

“In addition to supporting player development, this camp will also serve as a useful resource for the selectors as they begin to shape squads for both the Pakistan men’s side and the Pakistan Shaheens ahead of upcoming international commitments.”

Furthermore, the players will take part in fitness and fielding sessions from 6am to 8am, while skill-based sessions (net practice) will be held from 2.30pm to 6.30pm at the LCCA Ground and NCA from Monday to Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, the players will feature in match scenarios at the LCCA Ground.

Also, camp for Pakistan men’s team in preparation for the bilateral series against Bangladesh and the West Indies will be held in Karachi from 7 July. Meanwhile, camp for Pakistan Shaheens ahead of their tour to England will commence in Karachi from 10 July. More details regarding both camps, including the names of the players will be shared in due course.

NCA Skills Development camp to commence from Monday

Lahore , 14 June 2025 : The National Cricket Academy will host a 20-day Skills Development camp from Monday, 16 June, the PCB announced today. A total of 47 men’s cricketers will...

www.pcb.com.pk

 

[Bewal Express]

A total waste of time. We hold these camps for PR purposes and they make no difference

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

A total waste of time. We hold these camps for PR purposes and they make no difference

I think, in the main, these camps have not demonstrably been effective.

However, I do like the clear messaging here from Aquib Javed about the reasons behind the camp, I.e. specific technical improvements and fielding work.

The problem with a never ending cricket schedule is that players rarely ever develop or reimagine their skills. Rather it’s almost always about just maintaining what they’re good at.

This camp would atleast allow players to focus on weaknesses and try stuff.

An example of this is Babar. If Babar actually opened his mind to reimagine himself like Hafeez did in his later years, there’s still a hope that Babar could be more than the current risk averse version of himself. Similarly, other players can develop their play, like Mo Haris Vs spin and Hassan Nawaz vs the short ball.

The fact that they’re also calling up. 15-16 players for a week each allows them to work on the individual players.

Secondly, you have a promising batch here as well who’ll undoubtedly feature for the Shaheens. It’ll allow Aquib and the selectors to see how they can mesh a Shaheens team together from the talented group of lads picked. I can see them going with an Ahmed Daniyal/Salman Mirza/Aamir Jamal attack with Maaz Sadaqat and Khwaja Nafay getting a chance in the middle order.

 

[BunnyRabbit]

Depends on who is conducting the camp. Both the teacher and student need to be good for it to work. If it's Aqib then it would be useless really. Similarly, the players also need to accept their shortcomings and look to improve. Babar can still add new dimension to his game if he tries. Similarly, I doubt a camp like this would have any effect on someone like Azam Khan.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Camp should focus on batting bowling and fielding drills rather than useless military style jump and run only...

 

[shaz619]

Saya group is ready:



Rizwan:





Don’t @ the GOAT, process will be ready

@Rana

 

[Rana]

Saya group is ready:

View attachment 155366

Rizwan:



View attachment 155367

Don’t @ the GOAT, process will be ready

@Rana

Getting ready for the final thing that will end their careers

If they still want to play with fire and try in T20s…they and their fans should know, this will cost them their Test and ODI spot too.

They are not good enough T20 cricketers, and they insist on proving something at the international stage instead of showing they are worth T20 cricketers on a domestic level.

 

[mominsaigol]

Getting ready for the final thing that will end their careers

If they still want to play with fire and try in T20s…they and their fans should know, this will cost them their Test and ODI spot too.

They are not good enough T20 cricketers, and they insist on proving something at the international stage instead of showing they are worth T20 cricketers on a domestic level.

Problem is its deeply frustrating for them.

Hesson hasnt let up at all, he and pcb are focused and he'll bent on turning everything into a t20 contest for pakistan until 2026 wc.

That means a severe lack of odi and test cricket for pakistan until 2026. Which also means a severe lack of Babar and rizwan until 2026

 

[Rana]

After witnessing the spectacle of the Test championship…

Why Babar and Rizwan haven’t showed an ounce of shame and voluntarily decided to part ways from T20is??

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa…their top players are world class, Champion Test cricketers first! The T20 thing is just for fun! It has no prestige to it! How hard is it for these two (Babar and Rizwan) to understand this? Why do they insist on becoming T20 legends with zero T20 competence in the first place?

 

[mominsaigol]

After witnessing the spectacle of the Test championship…

Why Babar and Rizwan haven’t showed an ounce of shame and voluntarily decided to part ways from T20is??

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa…their top players are world class, Champion Test cricketers first! The T20 thing is just for fun! It has no prestige to it! How hard is it for these two (Babar and Rizwan) to understand this? Why do they insist on becoming T20 legends with zero T20 competence in the first place?

I mean t20 is the most popular format. The oldies are retiring cause they cant play it.

Steve smith is not a t20 cricketer neither is root. They know their not doing a service to their country by playing said format.

 

[Rana]

Bavuma and Markram

That’s who I want to be! That’s the way I want to be remembered!

Not Babar and Rizwan at USA!

 

[shaz619]

Getting ready for the final thing that will end their careers

If they still want to play with fire and try in T20s…they and their fans should know, this will cost them their Test and ODI spot too.

They are not good enough T20 cricketers, and they insist on proving something at the international stage instead of showing they are worth T20 cricketers on a domestic level.

Do you recall the times when these lot use to make comparisons between Babar & Makram, I need to see all the untah

 

[U$ofA]

Babar and Rizwan still developing skills?

At this stage of their career shouldn't they be honing their skills?

 

[Bewal Express]

I think, in the main, these camps have not demonstrably been effective.

However, I do like the clear messaging here from Aquib Javed about the reasons behind the camp, I.e. specific technical improvements and fielding work.

The problem with a never ending cricket schedule is that players rarely ever develop or reimagine their skills. Rather it’s almost always about just maintaining what they’re good at.

This camp would atleast allow players to focus on weaknesses and try stuff.

An example of this is Babar. If Babar actually opened his mind to reimagine himself like Hafeez did in his later years, there’s still a hope that Babar could be more than the current risk averse version of himself. Similarly, other players can develop their play, like Mo Haris Vs spin and Hassan Nawaz vs the short ball.

The fact that they’re also calling up. 15-16 players for a week each allows them to work on the individual players.

Secondly, you have a promising batch here as well who’ll undoubtedly feature for the Shaheens. It’ll allow Aquib and the selectors to see how they can mesh a Shaheens team together from the talented group of lads picked. I can see them going with an Ahmed Daniyal/Salman Mirza/Aamir Jamal attack with Maaz Sadaqat and Khwaja Nafay getting a chance in the middle order.

There is no message. Its just something to do, in actual reality it does nothing. No bowler or batsman can improve a week or 2. It takes months and even years in match conditions. Ultimately a strong FC will improve all players- to improve the FC you need pay better, improve practice facilities and have better wickets and it needs to be played in decent weather.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

There is no message. Its just something to do, in actual reality it does nothing. No bowler or batsman can improve a week or 2. It takes months and even years in match conditions. Ultimately a strong FC will improve all players- to improve the FC you need pay better, improve practice facilities and have better wickets and it needs to be played in decent weather.

Perhaps, and I agree that you can’t overhaul your game in a fortnight. But it’s enough time to fully vet and deconstruct a player, give them a development plan and then it’s up to the player to execute on that plan for either the national team, the Shaheens, in the domestics or in other T20 leagues and county cricket. It’s one of the reasons why the PCB has given these NOCs to a whole bunch of players who were first teamers but have now been dropped (I.e. Babar, Shaheen etc).

I caveat all this by also hoping that Hesson has strong involvement in the planning and execution of this camp.

It’s easy to be cynical because of what’s gone on before. However, I hope that the penny has finally dropped with the PCB.

 

[Bewal Express]

Perhaps, and I agree that you can’t overhaul your game in a fortnight. But it’s enough time to fully vet and deconstruct a player, give them a development plan and then it’s up to the player to execute on that plan for either the national team, the Shaheens, in the domestics or in other T20 leagues and county cricket. It’s one of the reasons why the PCB has given these NOCs to a whole bunch of players who were first teamers but have now been dropped (I.e. Babar, Shaheen etc).

I caveat all this by also hoping that Hesson has strong involvement in the planning and execution of this camp.

It’s easy to be cynical because of what’s gone on before. However, I hope that the penny has finally dropped with the PCB.

Who’s actually providing the information here? Do you really believe Aqib Javed can make a genuine technical difference? The whole coaching narrative feels like a scam. Remember when that guy claimed he had "fixed" Hasnain with all those videos? I said back then it wouldn’t make any real impact — and I was right. Players improve because they want to improve and it takes lots of hard yards and not a couple of weeks

 

[Ball Blazer]

First Day of National Cricketers’ Skills Development Camp

Lahore: The Skills Development Camp has started at the National Cricket Academy.

Lahore: Under the supervision of NCA coaches, players participated in various sessions.

The first session of the camp’s opening day was held at the National Cricket Academy.

Lahore: Players took part in role-specific training and technical refinement.

In addition to gym sessions, players also practiced fielding.

The second session of the first day will begin in the afternoon.

In the second session, players will engage in fielding and bowling practice.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Skills Development Camp for National Cricketers

Lahore: Participation in various sessions of players under the supervision of coaches on the first day

Participation of players in outdoor and indoor sessions.

Players participated in Role Specific, Technical Refinement and Physical Training.

The batters practiced under the supervision of the coaches at the LCCA ground.

Lahore: Bowlers bowled under the supervision of coaches at the NCA Ground

 

[Ball Blazer]

Lahore – On the second day of the ongoing skills development camp, national players actively took part in various training sessions under the supervision of coaches.

Indoor and outdoor practice sessions continued in full swing at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), Lahore.

Players focused on role-specific drills, technical refinement, and physical conditioning to enhance their overall performance.

Bowlers and batters also underwent dedicated bowling and batting sessions under the close guidance of coaches at the NCA ground.