NEW DELHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has initiated a nationwide scouting program called “Strike Force” to identify new talent for the national T20 squad.
The program aims to unearth hidden talent from all corners of Pakistan, where T20 cricket remains a popular format.
Former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq has been appointed to lead this initiative. His primary responsibility is to initially spot 50 players and shortlist them, with the goal of some of these players potentially representing Pakistan in the future.
The PCB official acknowledged that Pakistan has been struggling in T20 cricket for some time, and the idea behind this program is to leverage Razzaq’s expertise as a class hitter and all-rounder to discover unknown talent.
“We have been struggling in T20 cricket for a while and the idea is that with so much T20 cricket being played in the country, and Razzaq himself being a class hitter and all-rounder, can unearth some unknown talent,” the official said.
Pakistan currently rank eighth in the ICC T20 rankings and has recently lost T20 series against Australia, South Africa, and a match in Zimbabwe.
Tape Tennis ball cricket matches are immensely popular in Pakistan, and some unknown players even command a good fee to showcase their big-hitting skills in these local events.
The PCB official stated that Pakistan is lagging behind other countries in terms of hitting sixes, fours, and executing unconventional strokes. The objective is to identify players who are limited to playing in local events but possess the potential to perform at the international level.
Razzaq was previously associated with the PCB as a national selector until a few months ago, and his appointment as the head of the “Strike Force” program reflects the board’s commitment to revitalising Pakistan’s T20 cricket.
