Founding Members

The Global CORE Board

OUR PEOPLE

Where Cricket’s Future Was Forged — A Moment, A Mission, A Global Responsibility

On a freezing night in September 2025, at Banks Homes Riverside, Durham, CORE’s top leadership came together with a singular conviction to lay the foundation of CORE Cricket. What began as a moment of reflection quickly became a defining commitment. A small group of founding leaders united decades of global experience spanning elite performance, talent development, coaching education, grassroots transformation, and cricket governance, bound by a shared belief in the game’s greater purpose.

Working in close alignment with the leadership of IFCC, they accepted a collective responsibility: to build a cricket ecosystem that is more compliant, more rewarding, and genuinely sustainable. Guided by integrity and deep respect for the game, CORE’s founding members are shaping a future-ready global framework one that serves players, coaches, officials, academies, corporates, and communities alike, and helps build a better tomorrow for everyone who contributes to the game of cricket.

Founding Members

Geoffrey Cook

Cricket Leader and Talent Developer

Mudassar Nazar

Global Cricket Visionary

John Windows

Architect of Talent Development

Shahzad Altaf

Global Grassroots Cricket Visionary & Master Coach | Former World Cup Cricketer

Geoffrey Cook
Cricket Leader and Talent Developer

My vision is to build a clear, aspirational pathway where talent is identified early, developed intelligently, and supported consistently from grassroots to elite performance. CORE is about giving every young cricketer the belief that geography does not define destiny. By combining strong leadership, player welfare, and high-performance culture, we will empower the next generation to dream bigger, compete fearlessly, and achieve sustainable success both on and off the field.

Geoff Cook is a widely respected name in English cricket, known for his impact as a player, coach and administrator. A former England international and Durham opening batsman, who represented England in 7 test matches and 6 ODIs, Geoff transitioned from a successful county career to leadership roles that shaped the game’s future. As secretary and chairman of the Cricketers’ Association, he championed player welfare before returning to Durham in 1991 as Director of Cricket for their first-class debut season. His vision led Durham to historic success: their first major trophy in 2007 and the County Championship title in 2008, which he calls his proudest achievement. Geoff’s enduring impact is seen in his ability to nurture talent and build championship-winning teams. Geoff has spent a lifetime turning potential into greatness. Today, his vision will drive this global pathway programme in CORE that will empower the next generation to dream bigger and achieve more.
Mudassar Nazar
Global Cricket Visionary

My vision is to create a globally unified cricket development ecosystem that blends discipline, technique, patience, and purpose. Through CORE, I want to ensure that young cricketers across the world are given structured pathways, elite coaching exposure, and the right values to succeed at the highest levels. True cricketing excellence is built over time with character, resilience, and responsibility and CORE will be the platform that nurtures talent into world-class cricketers and respected ambassadors of the game.

Mudassar Nazar is a legendary name in world cricket and is celebrated as Pakistan’s consummate all-rounder, excelling as both a dependable opening batsman and a reliable right-arm medium pacer. He is renowned for his resilience and technical brilliance. as Pakistan’s Test opener, having represented Pakistan in almost 200 (198) international matches in a career spanning 13 years. With over 6,700 runs international runs in Tests and ODI format, 10 centuries and 177 wickets, he was one of the pillars of the Pakistan team during his exemplary career. Through his record-breaking marathon century against England in 1977, Mudassar exemplified patience and precision at the crease. His standout performance in Pakistan’s historic 3-0 series win over India in 1982–83, scoring 761 runs at an average of 126, remains iconic.

Besides Beyond his playing career, Mudassar has shaped cricket globally through leadership and coaching. He served as Director of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy, contributed to the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai and held roles as national selector for the Emirates Cricket Board. His coaching journey spans Kenya’s national team and the UAE, where he recently served as interim coach.

Mudassar Nazar brings decades of international experience to inspire and develop future cricket talent through innovative global pathways and will be instrumental in leading the programme here as a founder member of the CORE programme.

John Windows
John Windows
Architect of Talent Development

My vision is to establish a globally standardised talent development model that ensures potential is never overlooked and excellence is never accidental. CORE will focus on long-term player growth—technical, physical, and mental—creating environments where young cricketers are challenged, supported, and inspired. By sharing knowledge, data, and best practices worldwide, we will build a legacy system that consistently produces worldclass players and future leaders of the game.

John Windows, one of English cricket’s most influential talent developers, has been a driving force in English cricket for nearly three decades, shaping the careers of some of the game’s biggest names. As Durham’s Men’s Academy Director for 27 years, John played a pivotal role in creating one of the most successful player pathways in the country. Under his leadership, the academy produced world-class cricketers including Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Steve Harmison, Paul Collingwood and Graham Onions, alongside emerging talents like Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts.

Starting as an academy coach in 1999 and becoming Director in 2007, John’s vision and commitment transformed Durham’s academy into a powerhouse of home-grown talent. His ability to identify and nurture potential, most notably recruiting Ben Stokes as a 17-year-old, has left an enduring legacy in English
cricket.

Though stepping back from his full-time role for health reasons, John continues to mentor and inspire, ensuring his experience and wisdom guide the next generation. His passion for player development and strategic leadership makes him a cornerstone of global cricket education initiatives and will play a pivotal role as founding member of the CORE programme.

Shahzad Altaf
Global Grassroots Cricket Visionary & Master Coach | Former World Cup Cricketer

My vision is to build a truly world-class grassroots development programme— where every child, regardless of country or background, has access to the right coaching, discipline, structure, and pathway to succeed. CORE is about creating a global foundation for cricket that produces not just professional cricketers, but strong human beings for the future of the game.

Shahzad Altaf is a globally respected grassroots cricket leader whose career uniquely bridges World Cup-level playing experience and lifelong grassroots development. Born in Pakistan and later representing the UAE national team, Shahzad featured in the 1996 ICC Cricket World Cup, opening the bowling against top international sides—an achievement that underpins his deep understanding of elite cricket demands.

After his playing career, Shahzad dedicated his life to grassroots cricket, founding and leading high-impact academies that have produced numerous UAE international players. His work has been instrumental in professionalising youth cricket structures, especially in emerging cricket nations. As a founding member of CORE Cricket, Shahzad champions early talent identification, coach education, and discipline-led development.