PARACHINAR :  A School Talent Hunt Programme was organised in Kurram district under the supervision of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to identify promising young cricketers and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills.

The programme was arranged as part of the talent-hunt vision of the Director General Sports Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with a focus on promoting sports at the grassroots level and encouraging students to participate in organised sporting activities.

As part of the initiative, a ceremony for the distribution of cricket kits among talented students from various schools in Upper Kurram and Parachinar was held at the Sports Complex Parachinar. The event brought together young players, teachers, school principals and sports officials.

Additional Deputy Commissioner (Relief) Kurram Muhammad Ali attended the ceremony as the chief guest. During the event, he distributed cricket kits among players representing different schools and encouraged the young cricketers to make full use of the opportunity provided to them.

The ADC later formally inaugurated the cricket tournament by hitting the first ball at the Sports Complex Parachinar, marking the beginning of the sporting competition.

District Sports Officer Amjad Hussain, principals and teachers of participating schools, sports officials and a large number of young players were also present at the ceremony.

Addressing the participants, ADC Relief Muhammad Ali said Kurram district possessed considerable talent in different sports, particularly cricket. He said local youngsters had the potential to excel at higher levels if they were provided with appropriate facilities, training opportunities and platforms to showcase their abilities.

Muhammad Ali said the district administration and the Sports Department were committed to promoting sporting activities among young people. He added that the administration would continue collaborating with relevant departments and stakeholders to organise sports events and competitions in the district.

The ADC said such initiatives were important for identifying talented players at an early stage and providing them with opportunities to progress from local and district-level competitions to provincial and national platforms.

He also encouraged students to actively participate in sports alongside their education, saying organised sporting activities could help young people develop discipline, teamwork and confidence.

Officials said the School Talent Hunt Programme was aimed at strengthening grassroots-level cricket in Kurram by giving students an opportunity to demonstrate their skills in a competitive environment.

The distribution of cricket kits was also intended to facilitate young players who may not have access to proper sporting equipment. By providing basic cricket gear and opportunities to participate in organised competitions, the programme seeks to encourage greater participation among school students.

The organisers said talented cricketers from schools across Kurram district would be observed during the programme, allowing officials to identify players with the potential to advance to higher levels of competition.

They expressed hope that continued sports activities and talent-hunt initiatives would help create a stronger sporting culture in the district and encourage more young people to take part in cricket.

The tournament at the Sports Complex Parachinar provided participating students with an opportunity to compete, gain experience and showcase their cricketing abilities before coaches, teachers and sports officials.

The organisers said similar initiatives would be encouraged in the future to provide young athletes in Kurram with sustained opportunities to develop their skills and represent the district at provincial and national levels.