PCB Chairman Naqvi Meets Young Domestic Cricketers Ahead of New Zealand Tour

 PCB Chairman Naqvi Meets Young Domestic Cricketers Ahead of New Zealand Tour

LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met with top-performing young domestic cricketers at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Sunday, March 2, 2025. The meeting was aimed at addressing key concerns related to fitness, skills, and diet plans during training.

This initiative comes in the wake of Pakistan's early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy, where they became the first team to be eliminated, despite being the host nation.

The cricketers in attendance are reportedly being considered for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, which runs from March 16 to April 5, 2025. The tour includes a five-match T20I series and a three-match ODI series, and it is expected that some senior players may be rested for the tour. The national team is scheduled to depart for New Zealand on March 12.

During the meeting, the young cricketers raised important issues regarding training, particularly challenges faced at high-performance centers, including difficulties with fitness management and diet planning. In response, Chairman Naqvi reassured them of the PCB’s full commitment to addressing these concerns.

Naqvi instructed relevant PCB authorities to resolve these issues and granted the young players access to cricket academies across the country for additional training. He also directed the implementation of specialized diet plans designed to improve physical fitness and performance.

Emphasizing the importance of professional development, Naqvi highlighted the need for experienced trainers to oversee the players’ conditioning. "You are the future stars of Pakistan. Providing you with the necessary resources is an investment in the bright future of Pakistan cricket," he said.

The meeting was attended by several promising domestic cricketers, including Muhammad Ali, Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal, Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Ibtisam, Mohammad Salman, Afaq Afridi, Abdul Samad, Saad Masood, Khawaja Nafay, Muaz Sadaqat, Arafat Minhas, Mubasir Khan, Haider Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Faisal Akram, Tahir Baig, and Qasim Akram.

The PCB’s proactive approach to nurturing young talent signals a positive outlook for the future of Pakistan cricket, with Naqvi’s leadership focused on empowering the next generation of cricketers.