PCB launches ‘King of Speed’ trials

 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced a schedule for trials to seek out fast bowlers from across the country.

[caption id="attachment_455" align="alignright" width="300"] PCB will give away a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph (Photo: AFP)[/caption]

Under the programme, known as the “King of Speed”, the PCB, with the collaboration of cellular company Ufone, will hunt for bowlers who can bowl with a speed of 145 kph (90 mph).

Pakistan’s fast bowlers once dominated the international cricket and the team was famous for their production line of pacers.

But the country has been lacking quality pacers for quite a while, prompting PCB’s chief selector Iqbal Qasim to say last month that if serious efforts were not made, Pakistan might not get quality pacers.

“The King of Speed camps will be set up in ten cities across Pakistan from 13th to 21st April and the trials will be held in two phases,” a PCB release said.

The trials will start from Garhi Khuda Bakhsh and Multan and will be held in Faisalabad (April 14), Islamabad (April 15), Peshawar (April 16), Quetta, Abbottabad (April 17), Mirpur (April 18), Lahore (April 20).

The PCB, with the help of its sponsors, will also award a grand prize of Rs1 million to the bowler who achieves the fastest speed over 145 kph. And in case of more than one winners, the amount will be equally shared.

Pakistan bowling great Wasim Akram will also be helping the PCB to unearth the obscure talent in the country as he is not coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL this season.

Wasim has also agreed to help current bowlers in the national team before the eight-nation ICC Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held in England from June 6-23.