The Pakistan Cricket Board today officially announced the names of the six teams and their coaches for the Pakistan Junior League, sparking growing excitement and enthusiasm. The inaugural tournament, which will be organised by the PCB and live televised by PTV Sports, will take place in Lahore from October 6–21, 2018.
The six teams competing in this first-of-its-kind U19 domestic cricket competition are Bahawalpur (Southern Punjab), Gujranwala (Central Punjab), Gwadar (Balochistan), Hyderabad (Sindh), Mardan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), and Rawalpindi. The competition is primarily intended to give talented teenagers the chance to introduce themselves to the world (Northern).
Imran Tahir of South Africa will serve as the team mentor for Bahawalpur, Shoaib Malik of Pakistan, a two-time ICC tournament champion, will serve as the team mentor for Gujranwala, Vivian Richards, a two-time 50-over World Cup champion, will serve as the team mentor for Gwadar, and Daren Sammy, a two-time ICC T20 World Cup champion, will serve as the team mentor for Hyderabad. Similar to how flamboyant 2009 T20 World Cup champion Shahid Afridi will lead the Mardan team, hard-hitting New Zealander Colin Munro, who has been a member of Islamabad United’s lineup since 2020, will lead the Rawalpindi team.
Javed Miandad, a former captain of Pakistan and PCB Hall of Famer, will serve as the roaming umbrella mentor, supporting and guiding all the parties.
“There is huge excitement in this league both inside and beyond of Pakistan, and we have maintained that momentum by today’s confirmation of the city names and their coaches,” said PCB Chief Executive Faisal Hasnain. The six cities correspond to the domestic cricket organisation. This will not only provide gifted adolescents the chance to show the world what they can do, but it will also inspire them to play excellent cricket in a situation they have never encountered before.
“The Pakistan Junior League dovetails very nicely with the PCB’s Development Programme, through which we organize schools, clubs, City Cricket Association, Cricket Association, and PCB-organized 50-over and three-day tournaments. As the game’s regulatory and governing body in Pakistan, it is our responsibility to attract and create chances for our talented youth so that they not only make a career as a professional cricketer but also solidify our bench strength,” he added.
