Azhar Ali Appointed Head of Youth Development by PCB

Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has been appointed as the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Youth Development following a recruitment process. He will also continue to serve as a member of the men's national selection committee.

Azhar Ali is one of the most prominent figures in Pakistan cricket, beginning his journey in the 2002 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup before making his way into the senior national team.

During his illustrious career from 2010 to 2022, Azhar played 97 Test matches and 53 ODIs. He captained Pakistan in 9 Tests and 31 ODIs and was a key member of the historic ICC Champions Trophy-winning team in 2017.

As the Head of Youth Development at PCB, Azhar will be tasked with shaping the future of Pakistan cricket. His responsibilities include formulating and implementing a comprehensive youth cricket strategy, building a robust grassroots cricket structure, developing pathways for talent identification, strengthening age-group programs in collaboration with regional cricket associations, educating emerging cricketers under PCB's pathway programs, and organizing seminars and clinics to enhance off-field development for promising players.

Expressing his thoughts on the new role, Azhar Ali said:
"I am honored and excited to take on this important responsibility. Having played age-group cricket and extensively participated in club and domestic cricket, I understand how crucial grassroots development is in creating future stars."

"Significant progress has already been made in this area, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to further enhance our youth development programs. Our goal is to identify promising talent and provide them with the tools needed to succeed at the highest level."

The PCB congratulated Azhar Ali on his appointment and expressed confidence that his experience and vision would play a vital role in the development and success of youth cricket in Pakistan.