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Pakistan Launch Major NCA Camps as Test and White-Ball Rebuilding Begins
8 Jun 2026, 5:36 pm
Pakistan Launch Major NCA Camps as Test and White-Ball Rebuilding Begins
Pakistan cricket's rebuilding phase has officially started. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on June 7, 2026, that 49 players will begin separate red-ball and white-ball training camps at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, with head coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Mike Hesson overseeing the respective programmes.
The Red-Ball Camp Starts Today
The red-ball camp begins on June 8, 2026, and runs until July 10, with 22 players under the supervision of Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed. Players who were part of Pakistan's recent ODI series against Australia will join the camp from June 15 once they return. Babar Azam is among the 22 names selected for the red-ball programme, reflecting the selectors' intent to integrate one of Pakistan's most experienced batters back into the Test setup ahead of a busy schedule.
A Packed Calendar Ahead
Pakistan have a seriously demanding schedule lined up. They face West Indies in a two-match Test series in Trinidad and Tobago in July, before a series against England in August and September, and then host Sri Lanka in September and October. The camp is designed specifically to prepare players for these back-to-back Test assignments in challenging away and home conditions. Alongside skills training, players will take part in practice matches and scenario-based sessions to sharpen their tactical thinking.
Mike Hesson's White-Ball Operation
The white-ball camp, under coach Mike Hesson, begins on June 15 and runs through to September 18. It includes 27 players, with ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi initially named in the white-ball group but also expected to sharpen his red-ball bowling across the month. The programme is built with the Asian Games in Japan in September and October squarely in focus. Hesson has made it clear he wants Pakistan's white-ball batters to raise their strike rates significantly, which has been an area of concern in recent years. The camp structure reflects the PCB's decision to separate the red and white-ball coaching philosophies clearly, giving each format dedicated resources and time.
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