Next week will mark the beginning of the second year of the Engro Cricket Coaching Project, which is part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Pathway Cricket Programme. Herschelle Gibbs, a former South African opener, has been identified as one of the six international coaches who will be participating in this year’s project.
Among the coaches are Geoff Lawson from Australia, Scott McLaren from New Zealand (who serves as a strength and conditioning coach), Gordon Parsons and Julien Fountain from the United Kingdom, and Tatenda Taibu from Zimbabwe.
“From the 10th of July through the 10th of August, around 120 youngsters ranging in age from U13 to U19 will be receiving training in Lahore and Muridke from both local and international trainers. PCB and Engro Corporation agreed into a three-year agreement last year for the purpose of the program. On the basis of this agreement, Engro Corporation is financing the international coaches who are participating in the program, as stated in a news release issued by the PCB.
“At any one time, there will be five coaches working on the coaching initiative, with Gibbs focusing only on the youngsters in the U13 and U16 age groups. It is expected that he will leave on July 16 and be replaced by Lawson, who is scheduled to arrive on July 22. Lawson will spend a couple of days working with the U16 youngsters before attending the U19 cricket clinic.
“Parsons, who has served as a bowling and head coach in South Africa and the UK, was part in the program last year and stayed bowling coach for Pakistan U19’s home series against Bangladesh in November 2022. The series took place in Pakistan. While Parsons will serve as the school’s bowling coach, Fountain, a former fielding coach for the Pakistan Men’s team, will take on the role of fielding coach for the program.
Approximately 58 U19 players will be split up into two groups and coached by expert coaches at the NCA and MCC simultaneously from the 26th of July through the 10th of August.