The Engro Cricket Coaching Project, as part of the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme, is set to enter its second year with the involvement of six foreign coaches, including three former Test cricketers. The program, which aims to provide training to young players in Pakistan, will commence on July 10 and continue until August 10 in Lahore and Muridke.
The initiative, sponsored by the Engro Corporation, has seen a successful partnership with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) since last year, resulting in a three-year agreement. As part of this agreement, Engro Corporation will be sponsoring the foreign coaches involved in the program, allowing them to impart their expertise to the budding talents.
The elite coaching panel comprises renowned figures from the cricketing world. Geoff Lawson from Australia, who played 46 Tests and 79 ODIs, will be one of the key coaches. New Zealand’s Scott McLaren, who specializes in strength and conditioning, will contribute his expertise to the program. Herschelle Gibbs, a former South African cricketer with an illustrious career of 90 Tests, 248 ODIs, and 23 T20Is, will work specifically with the U13 and U16 players. Joining them are Gordon Parsons and Julien Fountain from the United Kingdom, as well as Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Taibu, all of whom bring vast experience and knowledge to the coaching setup. Taibu, Gibbs, and Lawson have all represented their respective national teams at the highest level.
The coaching project will be carried out in phases, with five coaches working simultaneously during specific timeframes. Gibbs will initially work with the U13 and U16 players until July 16 when he will be replaced by Lawson. Lawson will join the program on July 22, spending a few days with the U16 players before transitioning to the U19 cricket clinic.
Parsons, who previously served as a bowling and head coach in South Africa and the UK, returns to the program after his involvement last year. He will continue in his role as the bowling coach, while Julien Fountain, former fielding coach for the Pakistan Men’s team, will take charge of fielding coaching responsibilities.
The U13 phase of the program will see 25 selected players undergoing training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) from July 13 to July 25. The selection process for these players considered their performances in the Inter-Region U13 One-Day Tournament held earlier this year, as well as those who participated in the 100 Programme last year. Players who performed well in the U13 tournament but are now overage have been moved up to the U16 level.
Meanwhile, 37 talented U16 players will participate in the program at the Muridke Country Club (MCC) from July 10 to July 25. These players were born on or after September 1, 2007, and were selected based on their performance in the Inter-Region U16 One-Day Tournament and their involvement in the 100 programme last year. Similar to the U13 category, any players who exceeded the age limit for the U16 group were progressed to the U19 level.
Lastly, around 58 U19 players will be divided into two groups and receive training from the elite coaches concurrently at the NCA and MCC from July 26 to August 10. The eligibility criteria for the U19 players is a birthdate on or after September 1, 2004. The names of the selected players will be announced in due course.
The Engro Cricket Coaching Project has become an important platform for nurturing young cricketing talents in Pakistan, and with the addition of experienced foreign coaches, it is expected to further enhance the development of these players. The collaboration between the PCB and Engro Corporation continues to provide valuable opportunities for aspiring cricketers to learn from the best in the field and pave their way to a successful cricketing career.
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