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Robi Axiata PLC, in partnership with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), has launched a nationwide talent-hunting programme to identify promising male and female pace and spin bowlers across the country.
The programme, titled ‘Robi Bowler Hunt’, was formally launched at the BCB office at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.
The initiative will provide aspiring bowlers from different parts of Bangladesh with opportunities to showcase their skills through a series of trials and potentially pursue professional cricket.
The nationwide trials will begin in Sylhet on September 27, followed by trials in all divisional cities. Two trials will be held in Dhaka, taking the total number of trials to nine.
Following the divisional trials, a selected number of bowlers from each venue will be invited to a final camp in Dhaka. The BCB will then select the winners for further development and training under its grooming programme.
Registration for the Bowler Hunt will be available through the My Robi and My Circle apps until the day before the trial in the participant’s respective area.
A panel of cricket experts will serve as judges, including former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed and former West Indies fast bowler Corey Collymore. Several former Bangladesh national team cricketers will also join the judging panel.
Current and former national team players will attend both the divisional trials and the final stage, giving participants an opportunity to demonstrate their bowling skills in front of experienced cricketers.
Speaking at the launch, Robi Managing Director and CEO Ziad Shatara said, cricket was an integral part of Bangladesh’s culture and passion, with promising bowling talent spread across the country.
“Through Robi Bowler Hunt, we are creating a nationwide platform for promising male and female fast bowlers and spinners to showcase their skills,” he said.
“Through our partnership with the Bangladesh Cricket Board, the initiative aims not only to identify talent but also to create a pathway for their future development.”
Ziad Shatara said, the combination of nationwide trials, digital facilities and guidance from world-class cricket experts would help identify and develop Bangladesh’s next generation of star bowlers.
BCB President Tamim Iqbal Khan said the initiative would play an important role in identifying and developing new talent for Bangladesh cricket.
“To sustain consistent success in Bangladesh cricket, it is essential to identify and develop new talent. Through Robi Bowler Hunt, promising male and female fast bowlers and spinners will be identified from different parts of the country,” he said.
He said the partnership with Robi would create a structured pathway for future cricket stars and strengthen the process of bringing new talent into Bangladesh cricket.
Robi Chief Commercial Officer Shihab Ahmad, Head of Marketing Shawkat Kader Chowdhury and senior officials from Robi and the BCB were also present at the function.