The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 30-player squad for the final phase of the U19 World Cup training program. This high-performance camp, set to run from 7 July to the end of August in Multan, aims to prepare young cricketers for the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup.
Twenty players secured their spots following a rigorous two-stage selection process overseen by Head of Youth Development, Azhar Ali. Initially, 65 aspiring cricketers participated in the trials, competing in several matches to showcase their abilities.
Ten additional players with prior Pakistan U19 representation have been invited to directly participate in the camp’s final phase. All participants must be born on or after 1 September 2006 to be eligible for the upcoming World Cup.
The initial selection trials saw the 65 hopefuls divided into two groups, with each group participating in four competitive games. This structure allowed selectors and coaches to comprehensively assess a wide range of skills, encompassing batting, bowling, fielding, and strategy.
The upcoming training program is designed to enhance players’ technical skills and mental fortitude. It represents a crucial element of the PCB’s long-term plan to foster a robust talent pipeline for upcoming tournaments, including the ACC U19 Asia Cup and the ICC U19 World Cup.
The twenty individuals selected through the trials include Abbas Khan, Abdul Wahab, Ali Hasan Baloch, Asad Umar, Daniyal Ali Khan, Ghulam Haider, Hamza Zahoor, Haroon Khan, Hazrat Ali, Huzaifa Ahsan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Arshad, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Niqab Shafiq, Rana Adeel Mushtaq, Rizwan Ullah, Saad Saqib, Sadiq Aman, Sameer Minhas, and Yahya Shah.
The ten players with U19 international representation joining the camp are Abdul Subhan, Ahmad Hussain, Farhan Yousaf, Hassan Khan, Mohammad Huzaifa, Mohammad Tahir, Momin Qamar, Tayyab Arif, Umer Zaid, and Usman Khan.