The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed former captain Azhar Ali as head of youth development. He will take on this newly created role in addition to his current position as a member of the men’s national selection committee.
Although the PCB has not fully disclosed the role’s exact responsibilities, it stated that Azhar will focus on shaping Pakistan’s cricket future by developing youth strategies, strengthening grassroots structures, and creating talent pathways. He will collaborate with regional cricket associations to enhance age-group programs, educate emerging players through the PCB’s Pathways Programme, and organize seminars and clinics to raise awareness of off-field development for aspiring cricketers.
Azhar Ali’s appointment is a testament to the success of Pakistan’s youth cricket pathway. Having debuted in first-class cricket in 2002, Azhar was part of Pakistan’s Under-19 World Cup squad in the same year. He went on to have a successful career, making his Test debut in 2010 and becoming one of Pakistan’s cricketing greats with over 7,000 Test runs at an average of 42.26. He briefly captained both the Test and ODI sides.
Azhar expressed his excitement about the new role, saying he understands the importance of grassroots development, having risen through the age-group ranks himself. He emphasized the goal of identifying promising talent and providing them with the tools to excel at the international level. Meanwhile, Pakistan’s U-19 team is currently competing in a triangular series in the UAE, alongside Afghanistan.
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