In a first, Pakistan Cricket Board to host women’s trials in far-flung Sost Valley

Policemen stand guard outside the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket final match between Multan Sultans and Lahore Qalandars, in Lahore on March 18, 2023. (AFP/File)

• Sost Valley in northern Gilgit-Baltistan is the last town located on Karakorum Highway connecting Pakistan to China 
• PCB to hold trials across 14 Pakistan cities from August 5 to September 3 under U19 and Emerging categories

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Sunday announced it would host open trials for women cricketers for the first time in the picturesque northern remote village of Sost, saying the initiative highlights the board’s commitment to exploring women’s talent in far-flung areas.
Sost, situated in Pakistan’s mountainous northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, is the last town located on the high-altitude Karakorum Highway that connects Pakistan and China. 
The PCB will hold open trials for women at the grassroots level across 14 cities of the country from Monday, August 5, to September 3, the board said. 
“Among the 14 cities, PCB will host first-ever women’s cricket trials in the Sost Valley, a region known for its picturesque landscapes and passionate cricketing community,” the board said in a statement. “This initiative highlights PCB’s commitment to explore women’s talent in far-flung areas.”
The PCB said that the trials would be held in two phases, with Gilgit, Hunza and Sost regions hosting the trials from August 5-7 while the second phase will begin from August 21 and conclude on September 3. 
In case of rain on any given date of the trials, the trials of the respective city will be conducted between 4 to 5 September.
“Former international cricketers Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima – members of the women’s national selection committee — will hold the trials across the country,” the board said. 
The board said that the trial would include two categories, U19 and emerging, with players born on or after September 1, 2005, being eligible for the U19 trials.
“These trials will help the selectors to discover and develop the next generation of women’s cricketers,” Shafiq said in a statement. “We are keen to ensure that talent from every corner of the country gets a fair chance to shine.” 
He said the selection process would enable women to represent domestic teams, ultimately leading them to play for the national sides in the future.
Fatima described the open trials as “a crucial step” in efforts to nurture young talent. 
“We are excited to see the future stars of women’s cricket come forward and showcase their potential,” she said. “I will urge all parents to support their daughters in pursuing their cricket dreams by helping them participating in the nationwide selection trials.”
SCHEDULE
5 Aug – Venue: Cricket Ground for Girls Cricket at Public Schools and Colleges, Gilgit. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
6 Aug – Venue: Boys Degree College Ground, Hunza. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
7 Aug – Venue: Sost Valley, Hussainabad Cricket Ground, Hunza. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
Second phase:
21 Aug – Venue: Hanif Mohammad High Performance Center, Karachi. Selector: Asad Shafiq
22 Aug – Venue: Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala. Selector: Asad Shafiq
23 Aug – Venue: Crescent Cricket Ground, Sialkot. Selector: Asad Shafiq 
26 Aug – Venue: LCCA, Lahore. Selectors: Asad Shafiq and Batool Fatima
27 Aug – Venue: Saeed Ajmal Academy, Faisalabad. Selector: Batool Fatima; Venue: Qayyum Stadium, Peshawar. Selector: Asad Shafiq
28 Aug – Venue: Mardan Sports Complex, Mardan. Selector: Asad Shafiq 
29 Aug – Venue: Abbottabad Stadium, Abbottabad. Selector: Asad Shafiq; Venue: Bugti Stadium, Quetta. Selector: Batool Fatima
30 Aug – Venue: Viqar Un Nisa College, Rawalpindi. Selector: Asad Shafiq 
2 Sep – Venue: Inzamam ul Haq High Performance Center, Multan. Selector: Batool Fatima 
3 Sep – Venue: Women Sports Stadium, Bahawalpur. Selector: Batool Fatima