Excitement was high at DHA ground as over 1,000 aspiring cricketers participated in trials for Pakistan’s first private national-level Capital Premier League (CPL), with Karachi players eager to earn a spot in one of the league’s three teams.

A panel of former national cricketers Saghir Abbas, Shadab Kabir, Ali Raza, and Nadeem Babar oversaw the trials, evaluating young talent with an eye on the future of cricket in Pakistan.

CPL President Chaudhry Arshad Ali Bega addressed the media, calling the league a turning point for Pakistani cricket. With the launch of CPL, a new era begins. Players from across Pakistan, including overseas Pakistanis, will help raise our nation’s profile on the global stage, he said.

CEO Aftab Nayyar Siddiqui echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the untapped talent in Pakistan’s streets. “There are gifted players who’ve never had a platform  CPL is here to change that.

Sohail Shah, CEO of CPL franchise Overseas Ambassadors, highlighted the league’s international reach. “This is a historic moment. Overseas Pakistani players are thrilled to play in their homeland and reconnect with their roots.

CPL Director of Cricket Operations Waqar Ahmed Khan, along with cricket figures Muhammad Zubair, Muhammad Hassan Ayaz, and other city dignitaries, were also present, marking a significant step forward in Pakistan’s domestic cricket development.