PCB and Education Ministry join forces to boost cricket in Pakistan

On the instructions of PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, a decision has been made to promote cricket and improve infrastructure in schools, colleges, and universities across Pakistan. Cricket tournaments and leagues will be organized at various educational levels, including both boys' and girls' competitions.

In a special MoU signing ceremony held at the CDA headquarters, agreements were inked between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the Inter Boards Coordination Commission (IBCC), the Higher Education Commission (HEC), and the CDA. Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui were the chief guests at the event.

Director Domestic PCB Abdullah Khurram Niazi, IBCC Director Sports Mohammad Usman Khan, and HEC Director Sports Javed Ali Memon signed the MoUs.

Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi welcomed the initiative, stating, "For the first time in history, a serious effort has been made to promote cricket at the grassroots level. By organizing inter-school, intercollegiate, and inter-university tournaments, talent will emerge from the grassroots level. The best results will be obtained if all the institutions conduct joint tournaments together. It is hoped that the implementation of these agreements will strengthen cricket at the grassroots level."

Federal Minister for Education Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui emphasized the importance of schools in nurturing talent, stating, "Schools are the nurseries of every talent. Good players come from schools."

Under the agreements, the IBCC will coordinate with all educational boards to oversee the arrangements for the tournaments. A framework for the promotion of cricket in higher education institutions will be established and implemented, with a focus on the establishment of cricket academies and the promotion of women's cricket.

Key points of the agreements include:

Data of players from higher education institutions will be provided to the PCB database.
HEC will encourage sports scholarships for the best athletes.
PCB will select the best players for cricket scholarships, admitting them to higher educational institutions based on sports merit.
IBCC and educational boards will ensure maximum participation by liaising with schools and colleges.
Development of cricket grounds in schools and colleges will be coordinated with provincial and federal governments.
Tournaments will start at the district level, moving to division, provincial, and finally national levels.
PCB will provide official umpires, scorers, and necessary staff for the tournaments.
PCB will train the best players from winning teams at High-Performance Centres.
Top performers from schools and colleges will have the opportunity to participate in U-17 and U-19 teams.
Special coaching courses for Physical Training Education (PTE) teachers will be organized by PCB.
PCB coaches will visit schools to provide training during school camps.
HEC, in consultation with PCB, will prepare a roadmap for the capacity building of higher education institutions to promote cricket.
Top players from men's and women's inter-university championships will attend annual training courses at PCB's High-Performance Centers.
Free training for groundsmen and curators of higher educational institutions will be provided by PCB.

High-ranking officials, including Federal Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha, Federal Secretary Education Mohiuddin Wani, Chairman CDA Mohammad Ali Randhawa, and representatives from HEC, IBCC, and CDA attended the event.