PCB to build talent pool for future national team depth

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is putting plans in motion to create a dedicated pool of 40 players aimed at strengthening the bench for both white-ball and red-ball national teams.

This move comes after a thorough performance review of current national cricketers, and sources say the selected group will include a mix of established names and promising talent across formats. The same pool will also be used to pick players for the Pakistan Emerging and Shaheens squads.

Head coach Mike Hesson, along with his team of coaches, is currently finalizing detailed reports on player performances. Once the reviews are complete, the chosen players will begin targeted development and training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

In the first phase, 22 players have already been invited for evaluation, while more white- and red-ball specialists are expected to be added in the coming days.

According to insiders, the goal is simple — to ensure Pakistan always has a group of match-ready backup players who are prepared to step into the national side whenever needed. The NCA will use the assessment reports to help each player work on specific areas of improvement and stay ready for future international assignments.