Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi vows merit-based selection for Rawalpindi Tigers, backs Youth Sports Development

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Friday reaffirmed the government's commitment to promote sports and providing equal opportunities to young athletes, announcing that the Rawalpindi Tigers cricket team would be selected strictly on merit, transparency and talent

RAWALPINDI, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Jun, 2026) Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi on Friday reaffirmed the government's commitment to promote sports and providing equal opportunities to young athletes, announcing that the Rawalpindi Tigers cricket team would be selected strictly on merit, transparency and talent.

Speaking to the media at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium alongside Lahore Qalandars Chief Executive Officer Atif Rana, the minister said encouraging youth participation in sports remained a key government priority in line with the vision of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

He noted that around 10,000 young players had registered for the Rawalpindi Tigers trials, describing the overwhelming response as evidence of growing enthusiasm for sports among the country's youth.

"Selection will be based solely on performance and ability. No recommendation or external pressure will influence the process, and every player will be given a fair chance to progress according to his talent," Hanif Abbasi added.

The minister appreciated the support of sponsors and the Pakistan Cricket board, particularly praising Lahore Qalandars' player development model for identifying and nurturing talented cricketers from across Pakistan over the years.

He announced that 20 players selected through the trials would undergo advanced training and grooming at Lahore Qalandars' High Performance Camp to further develop their skills.

Abbasi said the initiative was not limited to Rawalpindi city alone but would provide equal opportunities to young cricketers from across the Rawalpindi Division.

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Highlighting efforts to strengthen sports infrastructure, he said several development projects had been completed in Rawalpindi, including the construction of sports grounds in public educational institutions and the establishment of more than 14 floodlit cricket grounds.

The minister assured aspiring players that any concerns regarding the selection process would be addressed, emphasizing that the entire system would remain transparent and merit-based.

He also paid tribute to the country's martyrs, stating that the trials had been dedicated to the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for Pakistan's security and defence.

National ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and opening batter Fakhar Zaman and observed the trials of aspiring young players.

Speaking on the occasion, Atif Rana thanked the people of Rawalpindi for their enthusiastic response to the initiative and said Lahore Qalandars remained committed to identifying and promoting local talent. He expressed hope that at least one player selected through the programme would eventually earn opportunities to compete at the international level, including in global franchise competitions.

He said Rawalpindi possessed immense cricketing talent and pledged that Lahore Qalandars would continue to play its role in developing and showcasing promising players on national and international platforms.