Media Release - 26 April 2005

National Talent Pool

PCB has formed a National Talent Pool of players which would comprise apart from the National Squad, promising cricketers who could, in future, step up to the National Team. This National Talent Pool comprises three categories as follows.

i) "A" - National players the majority of whom are under Central Contract.

ii) "B" – Promising players ready to step up to the national squad

iii) "C" – Under-19 players

All National Talent Pool players are being medically tested so that PCB's Medical Commission has a computerized database for regular reference. It would be the first time for PCB to prepare thorough medical records of our first-class players.

To bring "B" and "C" category players up to Test level fitness, Grant Compton, the PCB's Fitness Coach, will implement programs, collectively and individually, for the players to raise their fitness levels to international standard. Any player failing to reach fitness levels within the prescribed time limit would be dropped from the pool.

PCB is in the process of appointing national level coaches who would form a part of National Coaching Academy's staff. These coaches will take special charge of the National Talent Pool.

The National Selectors have selected players appearing on the National Talent Pool with the objective of having 3 or 4 fit and tested reserves available for each position in the national team. Currently players in recent 'A' and U-19s teams have been included in the National Talent Pool. The selectors would be free to add and delete players from the pool according to performance or fitness.

Abbas Zaidi
Director Board Operations

(Article: Copyright © 2005 Pakistan Cricket Board)