Pakistan Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has announced the launch of a new cricket team, Rawalpindi Tigers, aimed at giving young players from Rawalpindi a major platform through merit-based trials.
Speaking at a press conference in Rawalpindi, Abbasi said open trials for the team will be held on February 14 and 15, stressing that selections will be made purely on performance. He added that only players holding a Rawalpindi domicile will be eligible to join the squad.
Abbasi said the initiative is being set up to develop Rawalpindi Tigers into a high-quality, professional side, claiming the team will be prepared to compete at top levels, including the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the future.
Lahore Qalandars CEO Atif Rana was also present at the press conference, with Abbasi saying Rana will help guide the project due to his experience in talent development. The minister also shared that the trials will be sponsored by Capital Smart City.
Atif Rana, in his remarks, welcomed the project and said merit-based trials are essential for bringing new talent forward. He added that the plan is to form a club structure initially, with around 20 players expected to be selected in the first phase, while additional training support will be arranged to help develop the squad.