Haider Ali Among 25 Players in PCB's 'Strike Force' Camp

The Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to hold a "Strike Force Camp" has sparked controversy among participating departments in the President's Trophy, with several teams expressing concerns that the camp will weaken their line-ups during the ongoing tournament.

The 90-day camp, scheduled to start on January 13, will train 25 players, including young middle-order batter Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, and Khawaja Nafay. The camp, supervised by former all-rounder Abdul Razzaq, aims to infuse young talent into the national T20 squad. The PCB has released these players from their departmental teams for the ongoing President's Trophy Grade-I, prompting departments such as SNGPL, WAPDA, PTT, and Vishaal Associates to request a delay in the camp until the conclusion of the tournament.

The "Strike Force" program is part of the PCB's plans to transition to a new T20 squad within a year, following Pakistan's struggles in the shortest format. The program aims to improve the skills of the selected players, who have the potential to be power-hitters in T20 cricket. Upon completion of the camp, Razzaq will continue to monitor domestic T20 events and scout new talent from local events, as Pakistan gears up for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

The controversy surrounding the camp highlights the challenges faced by the PCB in balancing the needs of the national team with those of the domestic competitions. As the PCB looks to revamp its T20 squad, it will be interesting to see how the "Strike Force" program shapes up and whether it can produce the desired results.