Cricket in Pakistan has always had deep roots, and in recent years the growth of good cricket academies has provided better chances for young players to develop. Academies combine coaching, fitness, tournaments, and infrastructure to help juniors move toward professional levels. Here are some of the prominent cricket academies (or clubs with academies) in Pakistan in 2025.
If I were to pick top choices based on current evidence:
- National Cricket Academy (Lahore) – for those who want high performance and possible national recognition.
- Aleem Dar Cricket Academy – for inclusive training, especially helpful for hearing-impaired or young beginners.
- Tareen Cricket Academy – good if you’re in South Punjab or rural areas and want strong regional coaching.
1. National Cricket Academy (NCA), Lahore
- What is it: The National Cricket Academy (PCB) is Pakistan’s top high-performance cricket training centre, based in Lahore. It is overseen by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
- Recent activity: In June 2025, NCA ran a 20-day Skills Development Camp. Over 40 men’s cricketers including senior players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and promising newcomers attended. The camp had three phases and included fitness, fielding, batting, and match practice.
- Strengths:
- High level coaches under PCB’s High Performance unit.
- State-level facilities: nets, gyms, scenario-based matches to simulate pressure.
- It serves both established players and up-and-coming players.
- Why it matters: NCA acts as a bridge between club/regional cricket and the national/international stage. The quality of its programs is critical for Pakistan’s cricket future.
2. Aleem Dar Cricket Academy (ADCA), Lahore
- What it is: Founded by Aleem Dar, a highly respected international umpire. It is a non-profit cricket academy. ADCA focuses particularly on hearing-impaired boys (and sometimes girls), giving them free coaching.
- Location & facilities: Located in Johar Town, Lahore (Phase 1, Block D2) near LDA officers and behind Mian Plaza. It has a good ground, net practice, green outfield, and other basic cricket-training infrastructure.
- Fees & age groups: Admission fee is PKR 7,000, monthly fee about PKR 3,000, plus kit/dress fee PKR 1,000. It accepts players aged roughly 7-19. Hearing-impaired players get free coaching.
- Notable features:
- Inclusivity: special provision for hearing-impaired players.
- Good reputation among cricket circles in Lahore. Many parents and young players consider ADCA when seeking serious training.
3. Tareen Cricket Academy, Lodhran
- What it is: A newer, regional academy founded by Ali Khan Tareen, who is associated with the Multan Sultans (PSL). It aims to develop talent in South Punjab / Lodhran area.
- Recent news:
- In late 2024, Tareen Cricket Academy held an intra-academy league involving over 70 registered players, with age groups Under-15 and Under-19.
- Two players from the academy (Humayun Altaf and Muhammad Sadaqat) were selected in the Multan region team for the National T20 Cup in early 2025—one as a main selection, the other as reserve.
- Also, there is growing emphasis on women’s cricket at Tareen; efforts are being made to provide better facilities for female cricketers.
- Strengths:
- Grassroots reach: not just in big cities, giving chance to rural region players.
- Regular internal competitions. These help young players get match practice, which is essential.
- Challenges / gaps:
- Less visibility and fewer facilities compared to big city academies like NCA or ADCA.
- Need more infrastructure, funding, exposure.
4. Azad Cricket Academy (Karachi)
- What it is: Founded by ex-Test cricketer Saeed Azad. It operates in Karachi, often using CAA Airport Cricket Ground.
- Facilities, fees, sessions:
- Net-practice sessions are held three times a week (e.g. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday).
- Entrance / admission fee, monthly fees are relatively affordable (e.g. admission ~ PKR 3,500, monthly ~ PKR 1,000).
- The academy participates in the Under-16, Under-17, and Under-19 tournaments in Karachi
- Strengths:
- Accessible to many in Karachi due to location and lower fees.
- Helps link players to district/regional tournaments, which is essential to be noticed by selectors.
- Limitations:
- May not have the same level of high-performance facilities as more resourced academies (e.g. physio, video analysis, high end nets).
- Exposure to national-level coaching may be less frequent.
5. Customs Cricket Academy (Karachi)
- What it is: Customs Cricket Academy is located in Karachi. It serves as both a club and a place for serious coaching. Often seen in directories of academies and local cricket facilities.
- Features:
- Good location in Karachi, multiple practice nets, open to different age groups.
- It offers cricket training, tournaments, and a “sports-energetic” environment.
- Fees: Lower cost compared to big academies in big cities; this makes it popular among local youth.
6. Vital Five Cricket Club, Karachi (DHA)
- What it is: Not exactly a large academy but a club with strong academy-style coaching. It emphasises developing the five fundamental areas of cricket: Technical, Tactical, Physical, Mental, and Lifestyle. That is the idea behind the name “Vital Five”.
- Facilities:
- Well-maintained ground, net areas, basic support facilities. Location in DHA makes it accessible to many.
- It also participates in local matches and tournaments.
- Why players like it: Good balance of cost, location, and quality. For those who may not go to very big academies, Vital Five provides a solid option.
7. Abdul Qadir International Cricket Academy (AQICA), Lahore
- What it is: Founded by legendary leg-spinner Abdul Qadir. Now run by his family, particularly his son Salman Qadir. Its mission includes specialized spin bowling coaching, but also more general cricket training.
- What’s known:
- Many sources say it has produced good junior cricketers; names like Naseem Shah and Usman Qadir are often associated with it.
- The academy is known for personalized coaching and giving special attention to bowling technique.
- Challenges / gaps: Less frequent public news about day-to-day activity compared to NCA, but reputation is strong among Lahore cricketing community.
8. Clubs / Academies with Less Public Data
Some of the academies you listed (e.g. Rawal Kings Cricket Club & Academy) were not found in strong, recent news sources backed by verifiable details.
- Rawal Kings Cricket Club & Academy: I did not find recent credible news or reliable sources with clear information about this academy. It might exist more at a local/community level, but without major recognition in national media.
- Similarly, for “Azad Cricket Academy” or “Customs Cricket Academy”, verifying every detail (coach staff, fees, alumni) was harder; many published lists include them, but details vary. Always best for interested students/parents to visit, ask, and see facilities.
Trends & Observations in 2025
- There is increased focus on grassroots cricket, especially to reach under-served areas (e.g. Tareen Academy in Lodhran).
- Women’s cricket is being given more attention; academies are starting to provide training for girls more often. Tareen is an example.
- Inclusivity (e.g. hearing-impaired players) is becoming more common as a value in academies such as ADCA.
- Skill-development camps by NCA and others are now more frequent, with clear structure: fitness, fielding, scenario-based match play.
- Affordability remains a key concern. Big academies often charge more; in many local academies, fees are relatively low, making them accessible.
Why These Academies Are Important
These academies matter for several reasons:
- Talent Identification: They give young cricketers a structured way to be seen by regional/national selectors.
- Professional Coaching: They provide qualified coaches, good nets, equipment, fitness training—elements that are often missing in informal play.
- Match Practice: Internal leagues or intra-academy matches help players understand competition, pressure, consistency.
- Support & Exposure: Some academies help with gear, sometimes scholarships; exposure to tournaments helps players build resumes.
Challenges Still Ahead
- Infrastructure gaps: Not all academies have large grounds, turf wickets, pavilion, modern gym / physio / video analysis.
- Funding and sustainability: Many academies depend on individual patrons, local clubs, or small fees. To maintain quality, stable funding is needed.
- Uniform standards: There is no uniformly enforced standard across Pakistan for coaching curricula, safety, facilities. Some academies are much more advanced than others.
- Access for remote/rural youth: While progress has been made, many rural areas still lack good academies, so talent there may be unseen or undeveloped.
Conclusion
In summary, in 2025 Pakistan has several very strong cricket academies (like NCA, ADCA, AQICA, Tareen etc.) that are pushing the level of coaching, exposure, and inclusivity. For young players, choosing an academy involves trade-offs: facility quality vs cost vs proximity vs opportunities for visibility in tournaments.
