After selecting finalists from Karachi, Sprite Cricket Next (SCN) 2012 second phase kicked off in Lahore at the Railway Cricket Stadium in Mughalpura. The top 180 qualifiers (30 teams) from all over Lahore competed against each other to win a spot in ‘Josh’ or ‘Hosh’ squad and be directly coached by legendary cricket icons Shoaib Akhtar and Moin Khan. During the first round of elimination, 30 teams competed amongst each other until only 15 remained. These 15 teams (90 players) went on ahead to be judged based on their individual performances. The players were asked to move on to the designated game zones where they faced bowling machines and speed guns. 48 out of the 90 players were further shortlisted for the next round in which each of them was assessed individually by Shoaib Akhtar and Moin Khan. Out of these 48 players, Shoaib and Moin each drafted a team of 11 of the best players to represent ‘Josh’ and ‘Hosh’. Both teams faced each other in an action packed game of street cricket and based on individual performances during the match, Shoaib and Moin scouted players for their final squads. In addition to these players, there were four wild card entries, talented individuals who were granted an opportunity to play against Shoaib and Moin and impressed thoroughly with their exceptional skills. Speaking on the occasion, Shoaib Akhtar shared, “I am thrilled to be amongst so many Josheelas today. The crowd and the participants both have great passion for the game and it is heartening to see them show up in such huge numbers. The raw talent and passion displayed by the youth remind me of myself and how I started my career. Through this platform provided by Sprite, I plan to scout and coach Josheela bowlers like myself. It is evident to all that cricketers with JOSH have a clear street cricket advantage.” Moin Khan, while sharing his views on the occasion stated, “After everything that Cricket has given me, I have always wanted to give back to the sport. Through Sprite’s platform, I will scout, train and coach talented individuals, who will be assets for our nation and the sport itself.”
