Eyes on the Prize: Kingsmen Head coach Haseeb Azam sets sights on first-class promotion
By Nawaz Gohar ; As the PCB President’s Trophy Grade-II season dawns, Kingsmen Head Coach Haseeb Azam has signaled his team’s readiness, citing a year of meticulous planning and a “unfinished business” mindset following last season’s narrow exit.
Despite maintaining an unbeaten streak last year, the Kingsmen were denied a qualification spot due to the first-innings lead rule—a technicality that has served as the primary catalyst for this year’s rigorous preparation. “Our campaign for this season began the moment the last one ended,” Haseeb Azam remarked. “We didn’t just walk away; we dissected our performance, identified the structural gaps, and spent the last twelve months systematically bridging them.”
The road to the current squad was paved through a high-stakes selection process. In October, the Kingsmen hosted open trials and intensive camps, vetting nearly 70 players to ensure the roster was not only talented but strategically balanced.
“The objective was surgical,” the Head Coach explained. “We didn’t just want good players; we wanted the right players to fill specific roles where we felt we lacked depth last year.”
Preparation has been anything but localized. With training camps spanning Karachi and the Rawalpindi-Islamabad circuit, the squad has been acclimated to diverse conditions. Crucially, the majority of the roster arrives with “fresh” match fitness.
“Nearly 90% of our boys are coming straight out of senior district-level tournaments,” Azam noted. “They aren’t just practiced; they are match-hardened in red-ball cricket, which is a massive advantage entering a three-day format.”
Coach Azam is a firm believer in a hybridized squad. While the Kingsmen academy remains a breeding ground for young prospects—comprising 70% of the developmental side—the senior team relies on the steady hands of seasoned campaigners.
“Modern cricket demands the flair of youth, but the longer format is won through the temperament of experience,” he said. “Experienced players act as the anchor under pressure, and their presence in the dressing room provides an invaluable education for our younger athletes.”
For Haseeb Azam and the Kingsmen, Grade II is merely a stepping stone. The vision is far more expansive: a seat at the table of Pakistan’s domestic elite. “Our target is Grade I. We want to see Kingsmen in first-class cricket,” Azam concluded with conviction. “This format is the ultimate gateway. Success here doesn’t just mean a trophy; it means opening doors for our players to reach the Pakistan Shaheens and the national Test side.”
The Kingsmen launch their quest for promotion tomorrow, carrying a blend of tactical discipline and the hunger to turn last year’s ‘what-ifs’ into this year’s silverware.
