PSB launches digital system to scout young sports talent

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has introduced a new digital programme aimed at identifying and assessing young athletes through a structured and merit-based process for national-level opportunities.

The initiative, called the National Talent Identification and Verification System (NTIVS), is intended to create a transparent pathway for athletes across the country to come forward for evaluation. According to the PSB, the move seeks to address a long-standing weakness in Pakistan’s sports structure, where many aspiring players have often depended on informal routes, personal contacts or limited visibility to gain recognition.

Under the new system, the board aims to put in place a documented mechanism through which talented individuals can be considered on merit. The programme is open to Pakistani nationals between the ages of 12 and 25 in all sports affiliated with the PSB, with cricket excluded from the scheme.

Applications can be filed online through the PSB website in both Urdu and English. The board said there is no application fee and submissions will be accepted throughout the year on a rolling basis.

Screening and evaluation process

As part of the process, applications will first be reviewed by an independent panel of experts. Candidates who are shortlisted at that stage will then be sent to the relevant National Sports Federations (NSFs) for technical assessment and trials.

The final decision on selection will remain with the respective federations, while the PSB will serve as a facilitator to maintain transparency and the integrity of the process.

The board said physical evaluation camps will be organised at designated centres in major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Muzaffarabad, Gilgit and Skardu. The arrangement is meant to improve access for athletes living in remote and underserved regions.

Focus on documentation and accountability

A central feature of the NTIVS is its emphasis on record-keeping and accountability. The system requires applicants to provide performance footage, verifiable achievements and written feedback at every stage of the process.

According to the PSB, the initiative is also designed to help create a national talent database that can support long-term planning and better allocation of resources in sports development.

Director General PSB Yasir Pirzada described the launch as “a step towards transforming talent discovery into a transparent, inclusive, and merit-driven national system,” and said it is meant to ensure that “no talented athlete is left unseen due to lack of access or opportunity.”

The board said the digital platform is part of its effort to widen access to sports opportunities and establish a more organised process for talent scouting across Pakistan.