What is the reason why there is no more school cricket in Pakistan anymore?

[Surf]

Why isn't there any school cricket in Pakistan anymore. School cricket prepares batsmen and bowlers how to play in an organized environment and see if they are any good in cricket. It ingrains professionalism in those who play it. Those are also the important years to develop techniques of bowling and batting and even fielding.

Out of all of the current top 10 teams 8 have school cricket and Pakistan is also one of the very few countries that doesn't have school cricket. I know we had school cricket in the past and our team was also strong.

its not a coincidence or luck that our team was strong in the past because we had an environment where young boys could hone their skills before club cricket and major domestic cricket. We keep doing these fast bowling hunts but still we don't find a single international level player from these events. How can you build a house and make it last when the structure itself is extremely weak.

Lets take Sri Lanka as an example they have a small population of 20 million yet they have been 1 time ODI World Cup winner and three time finalist, 1 time T20 World Cup winner and three time finalist also. Because they have an excellent school cricket setup yes they are very poor right now but they will eventually rise again but Pakistan has been in rebuilding phase since 2003 and now we sit at 9th position and are facing the threat of playing qualifiers.

As a result the cricketers we produce have no sense of professionalism because they haven't played under any. They don't work on their game after they face a road block after their promising start and fade away. They have no work ethic because these things are instilled into you in your younger years.

 

[MenInG]

One of the proposals post WT20 fiasco was for some new trophy (Kardar) which should come on soon

Below announcement from May 31

LAHORE May 31, 2016: Mr. Shahid Hafeez Kardar, Vice Chancellor Beaconhouse National University and son of Pakistan’s first Test Captain Mr. Abdul Hafeez Kardar (late), called upon Chairman PCB Mr. Shahayar M. Khan at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Various issues of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting. Having recently shared PCB’s plans to revive university cricket at a meeting of Vice Chancellors of various universities, Chairman PCB discussed these ideas in detail with Mr. Kardar. “While the revival of club cricket is necessary, PCB is also keen to develop linkages with educational institutions across the country in order to further strengthen the game at the grassroots level,” stated Mr. Shaharyar M. Khan.


Chairman PCB shared his plans for the recently announced nationwide school cricket tournament. The tournament will be known as the Hafeez Kardar Cup. This tournament will be organized by PCB and will be administered by all 16 regions. Junior selectors will be tasked to monitor this tournament with the best players being shortlisted for training at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.

Mr. Shahid Hafeez Kardar thanked Chairman PCB for honoring his late father Mr. Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Pakistan’s first ever Test Captain, by naming the planned school cricket championship in his name. In a bid to promote grassroots cricket in Pakistan, Mr. Shahid Hafeez Kardar announced a trophy and cash award of PKR 100,000 for Best School Player of the Year on behalf of the Kardar family.


“Cricket is a unifying force and a key tool for national integration. I wish Pakistan Cricket Board success in its efforts to further promote the game in the country,” said Mr. Kardar.

 

[Saj]

There's an interesting chapter in a book I recently read, called White on Green.

It talks about how the rich, overweight, spoilt kids in Pakistan are forced to play cricket and attend trials and matches against their wishes, whereas the schoolboys with real talent who aren't from rich families have to stand and watch on the sidelines.

 

[MenInG]

A.H. KARDAR CUP
PCB launches nationwide Inter-School Cricket Tournament

Lahore March 27, 2017 : The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has launched the A.H. Kardar Cup National U-16 Schools’ Cricket Championship. The nationwide tournament is the largest ever such exercise in country’s sporting history with as many as 9000 school going kids from public and private schools involved in the initiative set to run for some three months.

Chairman PCB Mr. Shaharyar Khan, Chairman PCB Executive Committee Mr. Najam Sethi, Director Game Development Mr. Aized Syed and Mr. Shahid Kardar son of Pakistan’s first-ever Test captain (Late) Abdul Hafeez Kardar (Vice-Chancellor Beaconhouse National University, BNU) collectively unveiled the glittering tournament trophy which will be handed over to the winning team.

The trophy is PCB’s tribute to the legendary Mr. Kardar who made a big impact as a player, captain and later as a cricket administrator in Pakistan’s formative years.

Mr. Shaharyar Khan and Mr. Najam Sethi applauded the launch of the initiative and stressed on the importance of cricket at the grass root level which is likely to yield long term results and provide an exciting talent pool that can graduate to international cricket in due course.

The Chairman and Chairman Ex-Co added that the initiative is a continuation of PCB’s commitment of spreading cricket far and wide besides tapping into young talent at an early stage.

Mr. Shahid Kardar thanked the PCB for acknowledging the services of his father; he hoped that the tournament will add to the legacy of Abdul Hafeez Kardar since he always wanted to leave a lasting impression on the game in the country and the tournament is a befitting way of honouring his services.

The tournament trophies have been donated by Mr. Shahid Kardar while he also announced a prize of Rs 100,000 for the Best Player of the Tournament.

Mr. Aized Syed briefed the media about the tournament’s structure, format, schedule and the goals that the PCB has envisioned through this initiative. The tournament begins on April 5 with regional matches across Lahore, and followed by other regions. By April 21 all 21 cities would be engaged with simultaneous matches all across the country.

Tournament Features:

A total of 21 cities are involved in this record breaking event that is set to engage some of the leading schools across the country besides ones where sport activities are scarcely held.
10-20 schools will be participating with their school names in each region/city (10 public schools and 10 private schools). Also schools having more strength of students will have the option of not merging with other schools.

Total indirect participation of schools across Pakistan: Minimum Participation = 675 Schools approx. Maximum Participation = 900 Schools approx Total direct participation of schools across Pakistan: Maximum Participation = 348 Schools approx Total direct participation of school players across Pakistan: Maximum Participation = 9,000 School players approx.

• Regional/City U-16 School cricket Championship: Regional/City U-16 School cricket Championship in each region will be held from 5th of April to 25th of May. Result: One regional/City U-16 school cricket champion from each region/city.

• Pool matches (Regional champions) Pool matches will be played between the champion regional/City school teams. This tournament will be played in July (after the month of Ramazan). Result: Top team from each pool will qualify to play semi-finals.

• Semi-final and Final (Pool champion) Semi-final and Final will be played in July. (In summer vacations, after Ramadan) Result: One “National U-16 school cricket champion”
-Participating players. A player has to be a student of the given school and the age of the player has to be 16 years and 4 months in August each year to participate in this tournament.

Age verification process which is finalized by PCB has set January 1 2001 as the cutoff dates for eligibility of the participating players.

 

[DRsohail]

at last some good news regarding pcb.

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Good to hear that they are launching a competition at last.

 

[Syed1]

Wow excellent initiative.

I hope some of the domestic team scouts watch some of the matches and unearth some future stars. This is a rare good decision by the PCB.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

What?!!! No school cricket?!! Really?!!!

 

[Slog]

There's an interesting chapter in a book I recently read, called White on Green.

It talks about how the rich, overweight, spoilt kids in Pakistan are forced to play cricket and attend trials and matches against their wishes, whereas the schoolboys with real talent who aren't from rich families have to stand and watch on the sidelines.

Doesn't sound realistic

Rich, spoilt kids normally look down on cricket till they mature in 20s by which times it's too late

 

[TahirFan]

I think one of the reason why South Africa produces so many cricketers is because of school cricket. They play on beautiful grounds, schools employ full time coaches etc

Rondebosh High School where Gary Kirsten learned to play cricket

Bishops High school where Gibbs learnt his trade

Wynburg High school - Where Kallis and Richard levi learnt their trade

Durban high School - Amla

Lungi Ngidi - Proteas new sensation.

Where Jonty and Abbot learnt their trade

 

[Ellipsism]

I think one of the reason why South Africa produces so many cricketers is because of school cricket. They play on beautiful grounds, schools employ full time coaches etc

Rondebosh High School where Gary Kirsten learned to play cricket

Bishops High school where Gibbs learnt his trade

Wynburg High school - Where Kallis and Richard levi learnt their trade

Durban high School - Amla

Lungi Ngidi - Proteas new sensation.

Where Jonty and Abbot learnt their trade

I think we get the picture...

Maybe provide some insight rather than just posting pictures and videos, thanks. (Sorry if it comes out as harsh)

 

[javiersuka]

Doesn't sound realistic

Rich, spoilt kids normally look down on cricket till they mature in 20s by which times it's too late

Really? How do you conclude this?

 

[Hamza_]

I think even parents discourage sports in general. Schools are mostly grades oriented (Though the major focus behind that is to generate cash to fill in pockets).

 

[Hasan123]

Well done pcb.

 

[Chief Destroyer]

What?!!! No school cricket?!! Really?!!!

No school sports.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

I think one of the reason why South Africa produces so many cricketers is because of school cricket. They play on beautiful grounds, schools employ full time coaches etc

Rondebosh High School where Gary Kirsten learned to play cricket

Bishops High school where Gibbs learnt his trade

Wynburg High school - Where Kallis and Richard levi learnt their trade

Durban high School - Amla

Lungi Ngidi - Proteas new sensation.

Where Jonty and Abbot learnt their trade

Thank you for sharing. These pictures not only look great but they speak about the strong school cricket base in SA.


Ellipsism there is a message. Please enlighten us about the play grounds where current pak cricketers played with professional ball during school days and yeah forget about anything called inter school. Hassan Khan was the only one thanks to BH and that single tournament.

 

[SarfiBabarHaris]

No such thing as school cricket in Islamabad atleast.

There used to be some tournaments but no proper structure.

 

[Nil Dhumrojal]

No school sports.

That's sad state for future. There should be proper structure and regular tournament.

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

If anyone can explain above said school tournament's structure/format in simple terms.