LAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi attended the announcement ceremony for five bowlers selected by Lahore Qalandars to take part in Zimbabwe’s full domestic cricket season under the franchise’s Player Development Program.
The initiative is part of Lahore Qalandars’ continuing collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket and is aimed at providing emerging Pakistani cricketers professional experience and exposure to competitive cricket in both red-ball and white-ball formats.
The five selected players are fast bowlers Abu Bakar, Ahad Aziz and Fazal Ur Rahman, and spinners Abdul Ali and Fiaz Ur Rehman.
According to Lahore Qalandars, the players have been selected through different talent identification pathways. Abu Bakar, 21, from Lahore, and Ahad Aziz, 21, from Muridke, were picked through the Lahore Qalandars Player Development Program trials held in 2025.
Abdul Ali, 22, from Gujranwala, and Fiaz Ur Rehman, 23, from District Okara, emerged through the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme in 2025, under which Lahore Qalandars conducted trials for aspiring cricketers in 28 cities across Pakistan. Fazal Ur Rahman, 21, earned his place through the Pindi Tigers Trials conducted as per the directions of Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi.
The latest initiative follows an earlier exchange in which Lahore Qalandars sent five bowlers — Salman Mirza, Jalat Khan, Mamoon Riaz, Muhammad Adil and Hamza Sajjad — to feature in Zimbabwe’s domestic season in 2023-24.
During that season, Salman Mirza and Jalat Khan finished among the leading wicket-takers, highlighting the role of international exposure in player development.
Salman Mirza later became a title-winner with Lahore Qalandars in PSL 10 and earned a call-up to the Pakistan national team. Jalat Khan and Hamza Sajjad also progressed to play in the Pakistan Super League for Pindiz and Islamabad United, respectively, while Mamoon Riaz and Muhammad Adil continue to feature regularly in domestic cricket.
Speaking to the media, PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi praised Lahore Qalandars for the initiative and urged other franchises to contribute to cricket development.
“Pakistan Cricket will grow when all the franchises work together for the betterment and development of grassroots cricket. Among the franchises working for the development of cricket in Pakistan, Lahore Qalandars has its name at the top,” he said.
Naqvi also appreciated the facilities established by Lahore Qalandars at their High Performance Centers.
Lahore Qalandars owner and team director Sameen Rana said the purpose of player development was to create opportunities for young cricketers to grow, compete and prove their potential.
“Through our collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket, we are providing these five bowlers with valuable exposure to a different cricketing environment and the experience of a full domestic season,” he said.
Rana thanked PCB Chairman Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi for attending the ceremony and supporting the initiative, saying the gesture was a reward for Lahore Qalandars’ eleven years of work and would encourage the franchise to continue contributing to the chairman’s vision.
“At Lahore Qalandars, we are committed to building a system that goes beyond talent identification and equips players with the skills, confidence and experience needed to progress in their professional careers,” Rana said.
He expressed hope that the opportunity would prove to be an important milestone in the players’ careers and contribute to the future of Pakistan cricket.
Lahore Qalandars said the programme aims to enhance the bowlers’ technical abilities, tactical understanding and readiness for professional cricket by giving them the experience of a complete domestic season in Zimbabwe.
Through its collaboration with Zimbabwe Cricket, the franchise says it remains committed to building sustainable pathways for emerging cricketers and providing opportunities that can help promising young talent become future contributors to Pakistan cricket.
