Hampshire Academy captain Joseph Eckland has arrived in Lahore as one of eight English teenagers to play in the inaugural Pakistan Junior League, which gets underway next week.
Eckland has been selected to play for the Gwdar Sharks, one of the six franchise clubs from different Pakistan cities, in a T20 tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium, where England are currently playing.
The Academy batsman/wicketkeeper’s selection came after he had played for England Under-19s against Sri Lanka last month and followed draft from well over 120 aspiring youngsters who put their names into the hat.
Sussex spinner Archie Lenham and Seaford College based South African spin all-rounder Luc Benkenstein, son of former Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein, are also set to feature in the 19-match tournament, as is emerging Basingstoke & North Hants spin all-rounder Dubs Wood.
The Pakistan Junior League is the country’s first ever cricket league, providing an opportunity for young players under 19 to show talent and get trained by legendary senior players. Players from all over the world applied.
The 12 foreign players picked from the draft, including three from Afghanistan, arrived in Lahore in time to watch Phil Salt put Pakistan’s bowlers to the sword and sweep England to an eight-wicket T20 series levelling victory this Friday evening.
Each of the franchise sides has a team mentor and Eckland will have West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards (left above) in the dugout
“Having a mentor like Sir Vivian Richards is absolutely incredible, his presence alone will make a big impact in our dug-out and we will learn a great deal from his experience and stature in the game,” Eckland said.
“This is an exciting time for all of us and I am really looking forward to playing the PJL for the Gwadar Sharks.
“We have an all-time legend of the game with us and Sir Vivikan’s presence will be a huge motivation for me and my team-mates. There are some incredible mentors in other sides and it will be great to interact with them.”
The other mentors are Javed Miandad (league mentor), Shahid Afridi (Mardan Warriors), Shoaib Malik (Gujranwala Giants), Imran Tahir (Bahawalpur Royals), Daren Sammy (Hyderabad Hunters) and New Zealand’s Colin Munro (Rawalpindi Royals).
All six squads will train in day and floodlight conditions before the tournament begins on Thursday. Eckand’s first match is against Rawalpindi Royals next Saturday.
Eckland has been selected to play for the Gwdar Sharks, one of the six franchise clubs from different Pakistan cities, in a T20 tournament at the Gaddafi Stadium, where England are currently playing.
The Academy batsman/wicketkeeper’s selection came after he had played for England Under-19s against Sri Lanka last month and followed draft from well over 120 aspiring youngsters who put their names into the hat.
Sussex spinner Archie Lenham and Seaford College based South African spin all-rounder Luc Benkenstein, son of former Hampshire coach Dale Benkenstein, are also set to feature in the 19-match tournament, as is emerging Basingstoke & North Hants spin all-rounder Dubs Wood.
The Pakistan Junior League is the country’s first ever cricket league, providing an opportunity for young players under 19 to show talent and get trained by legendary senior players. Players from all over the world applied.
The 12 foreign players picked from the draft, including three from Afghanistan, arrived in Lahore in time to watch Phil Salt put Pakistan’s bowlers to the sword and sweep England to an eight-wicket T20 series levelling victory this Friday evening.
Each of the franchise sides has a team mentor and Eckland will have West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards (left above) in the dugout
“Having a mentor like Sir Vivian Richards is absolutely incredible, his presence alone will make a big impact in our dug-out and we will learn a great deal from his experience and stature in the game,” Eckland said.
“This is an exciting time for all of us and I am really looking forward to playing the PJL for the Gwadar Sharks.
“We have an all-time legend of the game with us and Sir Vivikan’s presence will be a huge motivation for me and my team-mates. There are some incredible mentors in other sides and it will be great to interact with them.”
The other mentors are Javed Miandad (league mentor), Shahid Afridi (Mardan Warriors), Shoaib Malik (Gujranwala Giants), Imran Tahir (Bahawalpur Royals), Daren Sammy (Hyderabad Hunters) and New Zealand’s Colin Munro (Rawalpindi Royals).
All six squads will train in day and floodlight conditions before the tournament begins on Thursday. Eckand’s first match is against Rawalpindi Royals next Saturday.