Mohammad Yousuf Praises PCB Development Drive After National Cricket Academy Visit
Mohammad Yousuf praises PCB development work after touring the National Cricket Academy in Lahore on Friday, saying he was pleased with the progress made at the facility over the past 18 months.
The former Pakistan Test captain visited the academy at the board’s invitation. He reviewed ongoing development projects and the modern training facilities on offer, and expressed satisfaction with the changes he saw.
Mohammad Yousuf praises PCB development after 18-month gap
Yousuf said it was his first visit to the academy in a year and a half, and the improvements stood out. “I am pleased to see positive changes at the National Cricket Academy after a gap of 18 months,” he said, adding that good work was under way to improve infrastructure and provide modern facilities for players.
He also lauded PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for his role in the development push. Yousuf said Naqvi was taking wide-ranging steps to improve cricket in the country and always ensured players received every possible facility. He noted that he had worked with the chairman for 18 months.
Backing for the grassroots plan
The former captain gave his full backing to the grassroots development plan drawn up by Aqib Javed and his team. He said the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 programmes, along with the Shaheens programme, would prepare talented players for the national team.
He called steady investment at the junior level Pakistan’s route back in international cricket.
240-day programme for 30 young players at Sialkot
Yousuf singled out one initiative in particular: a plan to give 240 days of training to 30 Under-15 players at the Sialkot Academy. He called it a highly encouraging step, saying technical development and mental training at a young age would serve the players well in future.
The focus on one academy and a fixed group of young cricketers marks a shift toward long-term coaching rather than short camps. It sits alongside other junior pathways already in motion, including the PCB Talent Hunt Program 2026, through which young cricketers can register online. The board has also moved to bring the Pakistan U19 team onto central contracts, another sign that the junior pipeline is being treated as a priority.
If the Sialkot programme delivers, it could feed directly into the age-group sides and eventually the Shaheens, the step before the national team. That is the chain Yousuf pointed to when he said consistent grassroots work could help Pakistan regain its standing in the international game.
Tours, coaches and pitches
Yousuf welcomed the PCB’s decision to send the Pakistan Under-19 team on a tour of England. Young cricketers, he said, need greater exposure to international conditions, and should play more cricket in England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to learn different playing conditions.
He also welcomed the decision to invite Sri Lanka’s Under-17 team to Pakistan, calling it a positive step for emerging cricketers on both sides.
On coaching, the former batting great called for a foreign batting coach to work with young players on technique, shot selection and performing under pressure. He stressed the value of preparing different types of pitches in first-class cricket, and praised the move to develop pitches with varying bounce, swing and spin at the LCCA Ground. Modern dressing rooms at the same venue also earned his approval, while he underlined the need to upgrade the biomechanics laboratory.
He added that modern bowling machines and video analysis could help spot technical weaknesses and guide corrections. The board’s bowling plans are also taking shape, with Shaun Tait set to return as Pakistan’s bowling consultant.
Yousuf closed by urging cricketers to make full use of the facilities provided by the PCB to lift their performance. The home season stays busy too, with Pakistan set to host England and Sri Lanka in a seven-match ODI tri-series from October 18. England have arrived in Pakistan for the contest.
The original report appeared on Geo Super.
Frequently asked questions
Why did Mohammad Yousuf visit the National Cricket Academy?
He visited at the PCB’s invitation on October 16, 2026, to review ongoing development projects and modern training facilities at the academy in Lahore.
What did Yousuf say about Mohsin Naqvi?
He praised the PCB chairman’s efforts to improve cricket in Pakistan, saying Naqvi always ensures players receive every possible facility. Yousuf said he had worked with him for 18 months.
What is the 240-day Sialkot Academy programme?
It is a PCB plan to provide 240 days of training to 30 Under-15 players at the Sialkot Academy, focusing on technical development and mental training at a young age.
What did Yousuf recommend for young batters?
He called for a foreign batting coach to improve technique, shot selection and the ability to perform under pressure, along with varied pitches in first-class cricket.
