Image courtesy of: The Express Tribune

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region is prone to regular Taliban attacks

Former Pakistan captain turned politician Imran Khan has announced that his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), have launched a cricket talent programme in the troubled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

The PTI are currently the third-largest political party in Pakistan and have formed a government in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region.

Speaking about the programme, PTI’s coordinator of sports and culture Iftikhar Elahi said: “Terrorism has been very destructive for sports. In fact, there are fears that terrorism can end sports activities and that is why we are aiming at sports activities to end terrorism in the province. The programme is aimed at spotting talent in cricket from the KPK province and Imran Khan has taken the initiative as part of his development programmes in the KPK. We have also hired a few coaches (former players) and we will put advertisement in newspapers to invite the budding talent.”

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa region has produced cricket greats like Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, but recently, regular Taliban attacks have all but destroyed regular life for the people living there.

“Khan will give as much time as possible and we have also hired a few coaches (former players) who will help spot talent and then groom them,” Elahi said.

Elahi added that the PTI were also looking into developing proper cricket grounds in the war-torn region.