Youngsters thrilled with U16 tournament

Players happy to gain invaluable experience during two-day tournament

KARACHI: The young cricketers at the ongoing PCB Stars U16 two-day tournament are happy at being given a chance to be selected on merit and showcase their skills.

Before the tournament, the selectors went around the country to pick players from 16 regions and announced 16 teams after conducting open trials under the National Cricket Academy youth development programme.

“The open trials helped me get into the Multan team,” said skipper Zaheer Islam. “This is a big platform and being selected here is a great achievement for me.”



The 16-year-old added that they are set to receive invaluable experience by facing and meeting different players and coaches. “The two-day tournament also brings out your real abilities,” he added.

Another 16-year-old player, Mujahid Ali had similar sentiments. “I came for trials from the Shaheed Benazirabad,” he said. “I went to give trials in Hyderabad where my skills were acknowledged by the selectors and I was picked.”



Multan restricted to 168

A five-wicket haul by Zaid Khan helped Rawalpindi restrict Multan to 168 in the first innings of their fourth-round fixture at the National Stadium of Karachi.

Multan’s highest scorer was Saif Muhammad with 59. In reply, Rawalpindi were batting on 100-3 with Javed Khan and Shoaib Khan on the crease, while Multan’s Muhammad Huzaifa had taken two wickets for 18 runs in his nine overs.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 17^th, 2016.

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