Renowned Foreign Coaches Join Engro Cricket Coaching Project

• Programme spans from 10 July to 10 August, training around 120 players from U13 to U19 age groups.
• Engro Corporation sponsors the foreign coaches as part of a three-year agreement with the PCB.
• Training sessions conducted in Lahore and Muridke to enhance cricketing skills.

In the upcoming second year of the Engro Cricket Coaching Project, under the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme, six foreign coaches will join the initiative. The programme is set to begin in the following week and will feature renowned former cricketers Herschelle Gibbs from South Africa and Geoff Lawson from Australia as part of the coaching panel.

The Engro Cricket Coaching Project, a part of the PCB Pathway Cricket Programme, aims to enhance cricketing skills and promote talent development in Pakistan. With the inclusion of experienced foreign coaches like Herschelle Gibbs and Geoff Lawson, the programme seeks to provide valuable expertise and diverse perspectives to aspiring cricketers, fostering their growth and progress in the sport.

“Around 120 players from U13 to U19 age group will be provided training by foreign as well as local coaches from 10 July to 10 August in Lahore and Muridke. For the programme, PCB and Engro Corporation entered into a three-year agreement last year, on the basis of which, Engro Corporation is sponsoring the foreign coaches involved in the programme,” the PCB said in its press release.

“Australia’s Geoff Lawson, New Zealand’s Scott McLaren (strength and conditioning coach), South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs, the United Kingdom’s Gordon Parsons and Julien Fountain, and Zimbabwe’s Tatenda Taibu are among the Elite coaches.” Australia’s Lawson (46 Tests, 79 ODIs), South Africa’s Gibbs (90 Tests, 248 ODIs, 23 T20Is), and Zimbabwe’s Taibu (28 Tests, 150 ODIs, 17 T20Is) are among the coaches who have played international cricket.

“At any given time, five coaches will be involved in the coaching project, with Gibbs working exclusively with U13 and U16 players.” He will leave on July 16 and will be replaced by Lawson, who will arrive on July 22 to train with the U16 players before joining the U19 cricket clinic.

“Parsons, who has worked as a bowling and head coach in South Africa and the United Kingdom, was involved in last year’s programme and will continue to serve as bowling coach during Pakistan U19’s home series against Bangladesh in November 2022.” Parsons will serve as bowling coach in the programme, while Fountain, a former Pakistan Men’s fielding coach, will serve as fielding coach.”

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The Engro Cricket Coaching Programme has selected 25 players in the U13 category who will undergo training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) from 13 to 25 July. To be eligible for selection, players must have been born on or after 1 September 2010. The programme aims to nurture young talent and enhance their cricketing skills through dedicated coaching and development sessions.

In the U16 category, a group of 37 players has been chosen to participate in the programme. They will receive training at the Muridke Country Club (MCC) from 10 to 25 July. To qualify for selection, players must have been born on or after 1 September 2007. The MCC training sessions will focus on honing their cricketing abilities and providing a platform for their growth and progress in the sport.

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The programme will also include approximately 58 players in two groups for the U19 category. Elite coaches will provide training to these players concurrently at the NCA and MCC from 26 July to 10 August. Eligibility for the U19 players is based on having been born on or after 1 September 2004. The names of the selected players will be announced at a later date, marking the beginning of their participation in the comprehensive coaching programme.

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