Aaqib Javed questions process of inviting players for U19 trials

Former Pakistan pacer Aaqib Javed has expressed his disappointment over the process of shortlisting players for U19 Cricket Associations sides.

As many as 291 teenagers will undergo trials for the six U19 Cricket Associations sides, according to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The players invited to appear for the trials include those who have represented Pakistan U19, played U19 tournaments in the 2019-20 domestic season, featured in U16 tournaments in the 2018-19 and 2017-18 domestic seasons and also the top performers of the Inter-district tournament 2018-19.

While talking to Daily Express, Javed questioned PCB’s process of shortlisting players and the lack of cricketing activities at grass-root level.

“Little or no attention has been paid to cricket at grass-root level over the past couple of years. If PCB keeps on selecting players like this, what will happen to talented players who were waiting for open trials? New talent won’t come through if players are selected in such a manner,” said Javed.

“We talk about following Australia’s cricket structure but inorder to do that we need to have a proper system in place for club, school and college cricket,” he added.

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The trials will be held from September 11-19 and will be conducted by a four-member selection panel comprising Saleem Jaffar, Sanaullah Baloch, Taufiq Umar and Wajahatullah Wasti, following which teams for the national U19 tournaments will be announced.  The selection panel will be supported by the coaches and assistant coaches of the six U19 teams.

Each major cricket centre of every Cricket Association will host trial matches over two days. On September 11 and 12, Multan Cricket Stadium, Multan, and Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad, will hold trials for Southern Punjab U19 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa U19, respectively.

LCCA Ground, Lahore, and Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi, will play hosts to trial matches for Central Punjab U19 and Northern U19 sides on September 14 and 15 after which trial matches to select the Sindh U19 team will be staged at Karachi’s National Stadium on September 17 and 18.

Bugti Stadium, Quetta will be hosting trial matches on September 18 and 19 for selection of the Balochistan U19.

The National U19 One-Day Tournament and the National U19 Three-Day Tournament will be played at Lahore, Muridke and Sheikhupura from October 13 to November 29.