PCB announces three player development programmes

[BouncerGuy]

PCB announces three player development programs

Lahore, 26 December 2023:

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced three development programs across the country which involve the activation of sub-academies in seven cities, specialized training camps for national players and a project to financially support the U19 players to develop them into quality professionals.

Chairman PCB Management Committee, Mr. Zaka Ashraf, after consultation with Director of Cricket, Mohammad Hafeez endorsed this initiative for the betterment of Pakistan Cricket. The PCB will collaborate with Defence Housing Authority (DHA) as the latter will provide land for cricket grounds in Islamabad, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Lahore and Peshawar for sub-academies. The Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi and the Inzamam-Ul-Haq High-Performance Centre in Multan will also be activated as sub-academies with the appointment of relevant resources.

As part of the development programs, specialized training camps will be arranged for national and upcoming players. The U19 players will be provided extensive financial support along with skills training and thorough grooming as professionals.

Director of Cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, while announcing the development programmes said, “We are delighted to announce three development programmes with an aim to groom our young players, hone the skills of national players via specialised camps and activate the sub-academies for year-round training camps.

“This initiative will help our players get ready for the highly competitive cricket at the top level. It is the need of the hour to work on the skills of our players and provide them with world-class facilities. We will also target interior Sindh and erstwhile FATA for further development programmes so that the talent in far-fetched areas can also be turned into international product.”

PCB​

 

[lazy cricketer]

mo hafeez doing some good work...whoever comes after him needs to follow it up not just throw all of it in the bin

 

[RidiculousMan]

View attachment 140672

PCB announces three player development programs

Lahore, 26 December 2023:

The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced three development programs across the country which involve the activation of sub-academies in seven cities, specialized training camps for national players and a project to financially support the U19 players to develop them into quality professionals.

Chairman PCB Management Committee, Mr. Zaka Ashraf, after consultation with Director of Cricket, Mohammad Hafeez endorsed this initiative for the betterment of Pakistan Cricket. The PCB will collaborate with Defence Housing Authority (DHA) as the latter will provide land for cricket grounds in Islamabad, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Lahore and Peshawar for sub-academies. The Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi and the Inzamam-Ul-Haq High-Performance Centre in Multan will also be activated as sub-academies with the appointment of relevant resources.

As part of the development programs, specialized training camps will be arranged for national and upcoming players. The U19 players will be provided extensive financial support along with skills training and thorough grooming as professionals.

Director of Cricket, Mohammad Hafeez, while announcing the development programmes said, “We are delighted to announce three development programmes with an aim to groom our young players, hone the skills of national players via specialised camps and activate the sub-academies for year-round training camps.

“This initiative will help our players get ready for the highly competitive cricket at the top level. It is the need of the hour to work on the skills of our players and provide them with world-class facilities. We will also target interior Sindh and erstwhile FATA for further development programmes so that the talent in far-fetched areas can also be turned into international product.”

PCB​

I would honestly ask Lahore Qalandars help in setting up the infrastructure and pathway processes. They have done it better than anyone else in the country. PCB can then take it up with whatever philosophy they have in place for these programmes.

Still this is a good initiative.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Nothing will materialize. Funds will be eaten by corruption.

When Zaka Ashraf left last time, Sethi audited PCB and they found many ghost clubs and players. So they were siphoning off money through them.

 

[Markhor]

We will also target interior Sindh and erstwhile FATA for further development programmes so that the talent in far-fetched areas can also be turned into international product.”​

No disrespect but we've seen plenty of PAK cricketers come from small towns and villages in last 30 years.

We keep talking about our players lacking game awareness, communication skills, fitness and assertiveness yet keep recruiting cricketers from the parts of the country with the lowest literacy rates ?

Education isn't directly linked with on-field performance (as Shan Masood shows) but the game has become so data-driven and analytical you need players who can process information quickly.

 

[DeadlyVenom]

I am getting more and more convinced that academies are just a political manoeuvre to nab land. I don't understand the specifics of it yet, but I have a gut feeling that they are hiding some sort of corruption.

Our cricket has gone backwards ever since academies and development programmes became the norm.

Strengthen domestic cricket. Put in performance bonuses for coaches/teams that introduce youth and win games/tournaments in domestic. Educate players. Pay for the better ones to play abroad.

Putting them in an academy bubble or development bubble is a waste of time.

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

No disrespect but we've seen plenty of PAK cricketers come from small towns and villages in last 30 years.

We keep talking about our players lacking game awareness, communication skills, fitness and assertiveness yet keep recruiting cricketers from the parts of the country with the lowest literacy rates ?

Education isn't directly linked with on-field performance (as Shan Masood shows) but the game has become so data-driven and analytical you need players who can process information quickly.

I agree, they typically have low IQ, low awareness and aren't able to learn or adapt.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Producing cricketers from village with low IQ level won't going to change our cricket fortunes at all. We need to convince middle class and elite class youth to take up cricket as a profession with enough perks and financial sustainability to make it as an attractive career option.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

If you still want village boys to be cricketers than better provide them at least college and bachelors degree funding as well.

 

[lazy cricketer]

If you still want village boys to be cricketers than better provide them at least college and bachelors degree funding as well.

boy education has nothing to do with talent and sport

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

boy education has nothing to do with talent and sport

You're right it doesn't. Intelligence isn't measured in academic qualifications but in the ability to learn, self analyze and work on your weaknesses.

How many players have we produced who have talent but are not able to improve themselves? Majority of them can't even learn how to swing the ball properly even after years in international cricket. Most can't even keep their line and length tight for 6 balls in a row. They lack worth ethic, a method so don't train properly.

Combine that with age fudging you have yourself a 28 year man child with an IQ of 90 making his debut

 

[lazy cricketer]

You're right it doesn't. Intelligence isn't measured in academic qualifications but in the ability to learn, self analyze and work on your weaknesses.

How many players have we produced who have talent but are not able to improve themselves? Majority of them can't even learn how to swing the ball properly even after years in international cricket. Most can't even keep their line and length tight for 6 balls in a row. They lack worth ethic, a method so don't train properly.

Combine that with age fudging you have yourself a 28 year man child with an IQ of 90 making his debut

The point is to teach a kid work ethic, how to swing a cricket ball etc etc you don't need to send them to get a diploma or a degree you just need decent coaches who know what to teach.

Desi people are too obsessed with players speaking English and all that crap

All need to do is work on your skills and hone them.

I don't think Messi, Ronaldo, Khabib or Mike Tyson have any diploma or a degree lollll they were just crazy about their game and work on it.

 

[Bewal Express]

Producing cricketers from village with low IQ level won't going to change our cricket fortunes at all. We need to convince middle class and elite class youth to take up cricket as a profession with enough perks and financial sustainability to make it as an attractive career option.

This is a rubbish generalisation. Not all Players from rural areas are low IQ and it's embarrassing for you to state this as some sort of fact. What makes you an expert on their iQ. IQ and education levels aren't the same thing, you can be educated and thick

 

[Theo_14]

I would love to see initiatives where PCB offer a route for youngsters to be also offered pathway into education, funded courses, or bachelors. Playing academy cricket etc but also education. That would be huge for development and for Pakistan.

Then again, how many times have we seen great initiatives and announcements but the implementation has not occurred or audits have shown fraud and corruption etc.

 

[ahmadharis1]

Just like every other initiative this will amount to absolutely nothing but wasted resources and will fade away once new management comes in and brings their own policies

 

[Muhammad Saad]

This is a rubbish generalisation. Not all Players from rural areas are low IQ and it's embarrassing for you to state this as some sort of fact. What makes you an expert on their iQ. IQ and education levels aren't the same thing, you can be educated and thick

Cricket has become a game adaptation on the run and adjusting tactics on the fly, if you are not intelligent or street smart you will always remain one step behind from your opponent, intelligence and street smartness may or may not come from education but definitely a village guy with simple lifestyle and simple upbringing will always fall behind.

 

[Bewal Express]

Cricket has become a game adaptation on the run and adjusting tactics on the fly, if you are not intelligent or street smart you will always remain one step behind from your opponent, intelligence and street smartness may or may not come from education but definitely a village guy with simple lifestyle and simple upbringing will always fall behind.

Not really- Cricket is a simple game, we are not talking about chess. A simple guy can bowl at 85mph and hit off stump, he can bowl 4th stump and make the ball move, both of those dont need any high IQ or great knowledge. Your confusing temperament, cricketing IQ with IQ as its widely understood.

 

[Suleiman]

bring back PJL and stop politicizing cricket. No one cares if good ideas came from PTI, PMLN or wherever else. Stop this trend of scraping out all good initiatives whenever a new chairman comes on.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Not really- Cricket is a simple game, we are not talking about chess. A simple guy can bowl at 85mph and hit off stump, he can bowl 4th stump and make the ball move, both of those dont need any high IQ or great knowledge. Your confusing temperament, cricketing IQ with IQ as its widely understood.

I am talking about t20 cricket and bowling in death overs where batsmen is planning to hit you 360 degree and if you don’t outwit the batter you will always end up on the losing side

Have you forget shaheen over to Aus? It was a perfect example of out read by the batsmen

 

[Bewal Express]

I am talking about t20 cricket and bowling in death overs where batsmen is planning to hit you 360 degree and if you don’t outwit the batter you are always end up on the losing side

Have you forget shaheen over to Aus?

So based on that logic, few, very few bowlers have that IQ and even they can get whacked.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

So based on that logic, few, very few bowlers have that IQ and even they can get whacked.

But if you have 2/3 such smart bowlers with skills in your playing XI you will end up winning most tournaments.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

If you consistently bowl 85mph on avg and outswing the ball and if you are bit tall and fairly accurate as well and either got a good heavy bouncer or toe crushing Yorker then more likely than not you will be successful in ODIs and even Test Cricket but T20 solely rely on how smart you are.

 

[ElRaja]

the devolution model that was supposed to happen under the wasim khan regime made the most sense, if the regions had enough power they would be held mutually accountable, this just sounds like more needless centralisation, why is the national team coach worrying about grass root development.

 

[Bewal Express]

But if you have 2/3 such smart bowlers with skills in your playing XI you will end up winning most tournaments.

But you could say that about any team. What if all teams had those? What then?

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Not really- Cricket is a simple game, we are not talking about chess. A simple guy can bowl at 85mph and hit off stump, he can bowl 4th stump and make the ball move, both of those dont need any high IQ or great knowledge. Your confusing temperament, cricketing IQ with IQ as its widely understood.

In that case everyone would be a world class bowler.

The few in sport who become world class are high IQ, they are self aware, self regulating, they are able to methodically anaylze their weaknesses and strengths and able to apply themselves during a match.

Pakistan has a habit of producing factory worker type cricketers who have just enough brain power to be able to do the same thing again and again and even then they lack the discipline to do that consistently.

They are not adaptable, not good with change, they lose their mind as soon as they step into SENA or are offered a plate of biryani.

 

[Bewal Express]

In that case everyone would be a world class bowler.

The few in sport who become world class are high IQ, they are self aware, self regulating, they are able to methodically anaylze their weaknesses and strengths and able to apply themselves during a match.

Pakistan has a habit of producing factory worker type cricketers who have just enough brain power to be able to do the same thing again and again and even then they lack the discipline to do that consistently. They are not adaptable, not good with change, they lose their mind as soon as they step into SENA or are offered a plate of biryani.

Exactly my point. If every one is World class then the word will cease to have any meaning

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

Exactly my point. If every one is World class then the word will cease to have any meaning

My point is you can't become world class if you are not high IQ. Amir is a classic example, natural talent but missing a few braincells.

The demise of Pakistani cricket is in direct correlation to the reduction of middle/upper classes not playing pro cricket.

 

[Bewal Express]

My point is you can't become world class if you are not high IQ. Amir is a classic example, natural talent but missing a few braincells.

The demise of Pakistani cricket is in direct correlation to the reduction of middle/upper classes not playing pro cricket.

I disagree to a point. Asif was World class and he was also thick. Sporting intelligence shouldn't be confused with general intelligence, although generally the more intelligence you have, can only help.

 

[gazza619]

Activate
Collaborate
Sub-academies
Training..

These are just words. Nothing new here.

And why is he talking about financial support of under 19 players. Are we now running a charity?

 

[Flat_Track_Bully]

I disagree to a point. Asif was World class and he was also thick. Sporting intelligence shouldn't be confused with general intelligence, although generally the more intelligence you have, can only help.

On the contrary, Asif was incredibly intelligent. The way he was able to manipulate the ball and set up the batters. He was always thinking. Unfortunately he wanted a quick buck and paid the price.

 

[Bewal Express]

On the contrary, Asif was incredibly intelligent. The way he was able to manipulate the ball and set up the batters. He was always thinking. Unfortunately he wanted a quick buck and paid the price.

He was thick as a thief in general intelligence. Ask Saj about what he said about other cricketers, which Saj didn't publish to avoid damaging PK cricket.

 

[Markhor]

The point is to teach a kid work ethic, how to swing a cricket ball etc etc you don't need to send them to get a diploma or a degree you just need decent coaches who know what to teach.

Desi people are too obsessed with players speaking English and all that crap

All need to do is work on your skills and hone them.

I don't think Messi, Ronaldo, Khabib or Mike Tyson have any diploma or a degree lollll they were just crazy about their game and work on it.

By no means is formal education a guarantee of sporting success. No amount of certificates can compensate for a lack of skill.

However every sport imposes varying degrees of mental stress on the participants. While cricket isn't as physically demanding as boxing and football, it's more mentally taxing with its convoluted rules and wider variety of conditions which require greatly different skillsets.

Therefore a cricketer cannot maximise their skills without some cognitive ability and there's several tangible examples where lack of education directly impacts performance:

1) Communication. Most of our players can hardly string together a sentence in Urdu forget English. If you're working with an elite foreign coach or top international player in PSL - how will you learn from them if you can't communicate your thoughts ?

2) Problem solving. Relying solely on natural talent is insufficient in the modern game. A player is more likely to know how to set up batsmen, what fields to set, and create counterplans if a batsman does X or Y if their brain is accustomed from an early age to problem solving tasks.

Captaincy is nothing but problem solving - and it's not coincidence our Test captains with the highest win % were also well educated.

3) Self-analysis. Again education teaches this. People are saying you don't need to be Einstein to bowl 85mph outswingers. But what happens when you can't bowl at pace or lose your swing ?

A thinking bowler will self-evaluate what's gone wrong with their wrist position, runup, use of non-bowling arm etc. An unthinking bowler says "some balls automatically swing" and are unable to identify their flaws. That quote's from Rahat Ali for those wondering.

4) Fitness. Some knowledge of human biology will help you understand diet plans and exercise methods, or why it isn't a good idea to tour the biriyani spots of Hyderabad during a World Cup.

Before someone mentions Indian players - India have invested far more in education than Pakistan have. Point is recruiting from too narrow a pool is problematic whether it's major cities or rural areas. It's heartening most of our cricketers since the 90s emerged from humble beginnings but it's now time to redress the balance.