In an effort to find talent at the grassroots level, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to hold open trials for women cricketers across the country from August 5 (tomorrow).
These will be the first-ever open trials organised in the Sost Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, which is known for its unique beauty and passionate cricket community.
The PCB will hold the trials in two phases. The first phase will take place from August 5 to 7 in Gilgit, Hunza and Sosts and the second phase will begin on August 21 and will continue till September 3.
In case of rainy weather, the trials of the respective city will be conducted between September 4 to 5
Former international cricketers Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima, members of the women’s national selection committee, will be holding the trials as they will include two categories — U19 and emerging.
Players born on or after September 1, 2005, will be eligible for the U19 trials.
“In the second phase, players can register themselves for the trials by filling the form online, which will be available in due course. The players will be required to bring their filled forms with both original and copy of Birth certificates/Bforms/CNIC to the trials.
"For convenience of players, they can get themselves registered at the ground as well,” the PCB said in a press release.
The following is the schedule of trials:
First phase:
Aug 5 – Venue: Cricket Ground for Girls Cricket at Public Schools and Colleges, Gilgit. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
Aug 6 – Venue: Boys Degree College Ground, Hunza. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
Aug 7 – Venue: Sost Valley, Hussainabad Cricket Ground, Hunza. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
Second phase:
Aug 21 – Venue: Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre, Karachi. Selector: Asad Shafiq
Aug 22 – Venue: Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala. Selector: Batool Fatima
Aug 23 – Venue: Crescent Cricket Ground, Sialkot. Selector: Asad Shafiq
Aug 26 – Venue: LCCA, Lahore. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
Aug 27 – Venue: Saeed Ajmal Academy, Faisalabad. Selector: Batool Fatima; Venue: Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar. Selector: Asad Shafiq
Aug 28 – Venue: Mardan Sports Complex, Mardan. Selector: Asad Shafiq
Aug 29 – Venue: Abbottabad Stadium, Abbottabad. Selector: Asad Shafiq; Venue: Bugti Stadium, Quetta. Selector: Batool Fatima
Aug 30 – Venue: Viqar Un Nisa College, Rawalpindi. Selector: Asad Shafiq
Sept 2 – Venue: Inzamam ul Haq High Performance Centre, Multan. Selector: Batool Fatima
Sept 3 – Venue: Women Sports Stadium, Bahawalpur. Selector: Batool Fatima