Author: shahzad.malik

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed was confirmed as the mentor of the Dolphins side for this month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

Dolphins will be based at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi and will launch their campaign against Saqlain Mushtaq’s Panthers on 14 September.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played in a single-league format.

All but the 16 September match between Lions and Panthers, which will start at 9.30 am, will commence at 3 pm. There will be three playoffs in four days with the final on Sunday, 29 September.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has captained Pakistan to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

He was also a member of the Pakistan side that won the ACC Asia Cup 2012. As a captain, he also led Pakistan to No.1 in ICC T20I Team Rankings.

Sarfaraz also became the first Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI World Cup century when he scored 101 not out against Ireland in Adelaide in 2015.

He also holds the record for most dismissals in an ODI match (all 6 catches) and is only the second wicket-keeper to have captained his side in 50 or more ODIs. He is also the 17th on the ODI list of wicket-keepers with 2,000 runs and 100 dismissals.

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“Mentoring a highly-rated Dolphins side in what promises to be a keenly contested and hard-fought tournament is something I’m eagerly looking forward to,” said the former captain.

“This will be a new experience for me and I’m excited about the opportunity to learn and further develop my skills as a cricket professional.

“What makes this role even more exciting and challenging is that I will also be participating in the tournament as a player.

“While my passion and drive to win each match remain as strong as ever, my role will also involve supporting and assisting the captain, players, and coaching staff to enhance their skills and become better players.

“I am fully committed to this role and am eager to make a meaningful contribution to the Dolphins side, with whom I have been involved in some of the most memorable matches.

“These include the last-over loss to the Stallions in the 2007/08 T20 Cup final, a 78-run victory over the Bears in the 2009/10 Pentangular One-Day Cup final and a 37-run loss to the Lions in the 2010/11 T20 Cup final.

“With the country’s best players and top-notch coaches under the watchful eyes of experienced former stalwarts as mentors, I am confident that this Champions One-Day Cup will exceed the expectations of the Pakistan Cricket Board and the passionate Pakistan cricket fans, whose unwavering support is always crucial.

“I believe all players will deliver their best performances, making this tournament an overwhelming success.”

READ: Bangladesh captain imitates Lionel Messi after series victory over Pakistan

Jason Gillespie, the red-ball head coach of Pakistan, is set to depart for Australia after the conclusion of the second and final Test against Bangladesh, according to sources.

Gillespie, along with the team’s high-performance coach Tim Nielsen, is scheduled to leave Pakistan on Wednesday (tomorrow).

The second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh is currently underway in Rawalpindi, where the hosts are on the cusp of a historic clean sweep.

Prior to this series, Bangladesh had never defeated Pakistan in a Test match.

Meanwhile, Jason Gillespie and Tim Nielsen will return to Pakistan ahead of the pre-series training camp for the series against England.

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England will tour Pakistan for a three-match Test series, scheduled to run from October 7 to 24 with matches scheduled in Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi respectively.

Meanwhile, the training camp is likely to start on October 1, as revealed by the sources.

It’s worth noting that team physio Cliff Deacon and strength and conditioning coach Dreks Simon will stay in Pakistan.

Deacon and Simon will conduct fitness tests of the national team’s players ahead of the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup.

The Champions One-Day Cup is scheduled to be played from 12-29 September at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played in a single-league format.

READ: “We have a game to win tomorrow,” believes Jason Gillespie

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis has been confirmed as mentor of the Lions side for this month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

Additionally, the Lions have been allocated National Cricket Academy for training and practice during the 2024-25 domestic cricket season.

Last week, Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq were named as mentors of the Stallions and Wolves, respectively. Details of the player names and player support personnel will follow later this week.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played in a single-league format.

The Lions will open their campaign against Shoaib Malik’s Stallions on 13 September, followed by matches against Panthers (day match), Misbah’s Wolves on 20 September and Dolphins on 22 September.

Waqar Younis has led Pakistan to 17 Tests and 62 ODIs. He has featured in three ODI World Cups and holds the record for fastest to 400 ODI wickets.

The former fast bowler also leads the list of captains with the best ODI bowling figures and is one of the bowlers to dismiss all 11 batters in a Test match.

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He was named as one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1992. Later, he was inducted into the ICC and PCB Hall of Fames in 2013 and 2021, respectively.

He has also coached Pakistan in the 2010 and 2016 T20 World Cups as well as the 2011 and 2015 ODI World Cups. Moreover, he also served as Pakistan’s bowling coach from 2019-2021.

“I am excited about the opportunity to once again contribute to player development. This new role presents a fresh challenge that I embrace with great enthusiasm,” said Waqar.

“Beyond the chance to work with some of the most talented cricketers, there will be a fascinating dynamic among the mentors as each of us will strive to outmanoeuvre the others.

“With a series of high-profile 50-over international matches on the horizon, culminating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Champions One-Day Cup is an invaluable opportunity for players to showcase their skills and stake their claim for national selection.

“I have no doubt that this tournament will help us identify future stars who, with the right guidance and development, can serve our country for many years to come.

“As for my role, I am committed to sharing as much knowledge and insight as possible with both the coaching staff and the players. My goal is to help them grow into more effective and impactful players, ensuring a bright future for our Lions and the Pakistan cricket team.”

READ: Former Pakistan captain compares Babar’s technique to Tendulkar

The chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday announced free entry for fans in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup matches in Faisalabad.

After a meeting held to discuss the arrangements for hosting the Champions Cup, Naqvi told the media that fans could watch all the matches except the playoffs for free at the Iqbal Stadium.

The meeting was attended by Chief Operating Officer PCB Salman Naseer, Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza, Advisor Bilal Afzal, Director Domestic Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director Commercial, Director High Performance, Senior General Manager Domestic Junaid Zia, and other relevant officials.

“The residents of Faisalabad love the game of cricket. After a long time, Pakistan’s top players will be in action in a major tournament in Faisalabad,” said Naqvi.

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“Not only will talent emerge from the Champions Cup, but domestic cricket will also strengthen. For the success of the Champions Cup, the entire team must work responsibly.”

The Best of the best cricketers from the country will feature in the single-league competition that will also serve as the homecoming of men’s seniors’ competitive cricket in Faisalabad after nearly two years.

The last domestic men’s 50-over match played at the Iqbal Stadium was in March 2022 between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Champions One-Day Cup Schedule

12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers

13 Sep – Stallions v Lions

14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers

15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions

16 Sep – Lions v Panthers

17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves

19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins

20 Sep – Lions v Wolves

21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions

22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions

24 Sep – Qualifier (Team No.1 v Team No. 2)

25 Sep – Eliminator 1 (Team No.3 v Team No.4)

27 Sep – Eliminator 2 (Losing Qualifier v Winning Eliminator 2)

29 Sep – Final

READ: Dwayne Bravo set to retire from CPL after 2024 season

LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain and two-time ICC Event winner Shoaib Malik will mentor the Stallions in next month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

Shoaib Malik was one of the five champion mentors unveiled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week.

Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Waqar Younis are the other four mentors, who will reveal their side names and logos in PCB-arranged media conferences as part of promotion and publicity as well as creating Champions Cup brand awareness.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers. This will be a 50-over tournament that will be played on a single-league format.

All but the 16 September match between Lions and Panthers, which will start at 9.30 am, will commence at 3 pm. There will be three playoffs in four days with the final on Sunday, 29 September.

Shoaib Malik’s Stallions will take on Lions on 13 September, followed by matches against Wolves (15 September), Dolphins (19 September) and Panthers (21 September).

Shoaib Malik represented Pakistan in the 2007 and 2019 ODI World Cups, as well as six T20 World Cups and six Champions Trophy tournaments. Under his captaincy, Pakistan reached the final of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2007.

Malik is 33rd on the list of ODI players with 1,000 runs, 50 wickets and 50 catches. He also holds the record for one of the longest international careers, spanning nearly 20 years, having played in 35 Tests, 287 ODIs and 124 T20Is.

He has scored 11,867 runs and taken 218 wickets across formats and is considered one of the most sought-after cricketers in franchise cricket.

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“I am thrilled to be appointed as a mentor for the Stallions, a team with which I have shared many memorable moments as a player and captain,” said Shoaib Malik.

“Now, to return in the role of a mentor is an incredible opportunity. I am confident that I can still contribute significantly to the Stallion brand by sharing my experience and passion for the game.

“As a mentor, my role goes beyond just providing guidance from the dugout. I will also take to the field in select matches to impart my firsthand knowledge and experience.

“This will enable our upcoming cricketers to refine their skills and elevate their game, ultimately supporting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s efforts to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.

“I am a strong advocate of the Champions Cup format, which unites the best talents from our domestic cricket in a highly competitive, high-pressure environment.

“While there will be fierce battles for supremacy on the field, there will also be intense rivalries among the mentors as we strive to outmanoeuvre each other, bringing an extra layer of excitement to every match.

“In cricket, as in any field, the learning process never truly ends, but it can certainly be accelerated.

“With this in mind, I am optimistic that the Champions Cup, guided by our experienced mentors, skilled coaching staff, and live broadcasts, will significantly strengthen our domestic cricket structure. This, in turn, will cultivate more skilled and talented players, ready to take on the global stage.

“Of course, such progress won’t happen overnight, but with patience and persistence, we can achieve our shared goals.

“I eagerly anticipate the support of our dedicated Stallion fans and the media throughout the Champions Cup. Together, we can develop new champions who will bring glory not just to the team, but to our region and our country.”

READ: Pakistan head coach reveals why Shaheen Afridi was left out of second Bangladesh Test

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the names of five participating teams and the schedule for the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup.

The five teams — Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions and Wolves will square off in the single-league tournament at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from 12 September.

The opening match will be played between the Wolves and the Panthers, while the final is scheduled to be played on 29 September.

Except for the 16 September match between Lions and Panthers, which will commence at 9.30 am local time, all other 13 matches will begin at 3 pm.

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Lions and Panthers will go toe to toe in a morning match to allow Pakistan women’s versus South Africa women’s T20I to be broadcast live.

The PCB on Monday announced Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis as mentors of the five Champions Cup sides.

However, their team and the 15-player squads of each time will be revealed in the coming days.

Champions One-Day Cup

12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers

13 Sep – Stallions v Lions

14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers

15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions

16 Sep – Lions v Panthers

17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves

19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins

20 Sep – Lions v Wolves

21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions

22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions

24 Sep – Qualifier (Team No.1 v Team No. 2)

25 Sep – Eliminator 1 (Team No.3 v Team No.4)

27 Sep – Eliminator 2 (Losing Qualifier v Winning Eliminator 2)

29 Sep – Final

READ: Pakistan to host South Africa ahead of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

Pakistan is set to host South Africa for a three-match T20I series ahead of the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, scheduled to be played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 3 to 20 October.

The South Africa team will arrive in Multan on 13 September, with matches scheduled for 16, 18, and 20 September.

To ensure all three matches are broadcast live and give exposure to women’s cricket, the matches on 16 and 18 September will start at 7 pm, while the match on 20 September will begin at 10 am.

After the series, South Africa will depart for the UAE on 21 September, while Pakistan will leave on 23 September.

Pakistan is in Group A of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, along with Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka, while South Africa is grouped with Bangladesh, England, Scotland and the West Indies.

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Following warm-up matches against Scotland and Bangladesh on 28 and 30 September, respectively, Pakistan will face Sri Lanka on 3 October in Sharjah, followed by matches against India on 6 October in Dubai, Australia on 11 October in Dubai and New Zealand on 14 October in Dubai.

Meanwhile, the PCB has confirmed that the squad announced for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will feature in the three-match series against South Africa.

To prepare for the home series and next month’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the Pakistan women’s training camp will commence at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 1 September.

Pakistan squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

Travelling reserve: Najiha Alvi (wk) Non-traveling reserves: Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani

Player support personnel:

Hina Munawar (manager), Muhammad Wasim (head coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling), Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Imran Khalil (strength and conditioning coach), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist) and Waleed Ahmed (analyst).

READ: India name squad for Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

LAHORE: Fatima Sana has been named Pakistan women’s cricket team captain as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.

The mega-event will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 3 to 20 October.

The decision to appoint Fatima Sana was made unanimously by the women’s national selection committee.

22-year-old Fatima, who has featured in 41 ODIs and 40 T20Is, has previously led Pakistan emerging and domestic sides.

She also captained the Pakistan side to a famous ODI win against New Zealand in a Super Over at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch, in December 2023.

Fatima will replace 37-year-old all-rounder Nida Dar, who took over as all-format captain from Bismah Maroof.

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Nida, a veteran of 112 ODIs and 153 T20Is, is part of the side that has been clubbed with Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Group A. The revised fixtures of the group will be announced by ICC in due course.

The selection committee has made only one change in the squad, which featured in last month’s ACC Women’s Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Right-handed batter Sadaf Shamas, who was also part of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa, has made a comeback in the squad in place of wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi, who will travel with the side as a reserve player.

From the 2023 edition, 10 players (Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin and Tuba Hassan) have been retained, while uncapped left-arm pacer Tasmia Rubab makes it to the final 15.

Pakistan squad for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Fatima Sana (c), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan

Travelling reserve: Najiha Alvi (wk) Non-traveling reserves: Rameen Shamim and Umm-e-Hani

READ: Mark Wood ruled out of fourth day of England-Sri Lanka Test

LAHORE: Team Pakistan made its presence felt at the Asian MMA Championship 2024 as two of their fighters Eman Khan and Bano Butt secured a gold medal each in respective categories.

Bano, who outclassed India’s Khushboo Nishad via a knockout in the semi-final on Wednesday, continued her impressive run in the event.

She clinched the first gold medal for Team Pakistan by defeating Kazakhstan’s Gulnaz Abdrakhmanova in the senior women’s Atomweight category.

Team Pakistan soon got their hands on another gold medal when Eman Khan humbled Kazakhstan’s Dinara Ayapova in the first round via a rear-neck choke.

“I worked hard for more than three years for this event,” said Eman after clinching the Asian MMA Championship gold medal for Team Pakistan.

Eman also congratulated her compatriot Bano Butt on emulating the same feat before expressing her desire to witness Pakistan excel in MMA as well as in other sports.

Meanwhile, Bushra Ahmed, who earned direct qualification into the final round on technical grounds, came up short against Kazakhstan’s Adel Makhametova and thus, had to settle for a silver medal.

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In the men’s category, all three of Team Pakistan’s fighters suffered defeats.

Zeeshan Akbar glimmered a ray of hope for a third gold medal for Team Pakistan as he fought Krghyzstan’s fighter for three rounds but failed to pull off the victory.

On the other hand, Shahab Ali lost to Kazakhstan’s Neimat Assadov in the senior men’s Lightweight category while Abdul Manan suffered defeat in the final of the junior men’s flyweight category.

All in all, Team Pakistan bagged six medals, two golds and four silvers.

Team Kazakhstan and Team Tajikistan topped the medals chart of the Asian MMA Championship with seven gold medals each, followed by Team Bahrain with three, while Team Pakistan and Team Kyrgyzstan clinched two each.

The Asian Championship of MMA was held in Pakistan for the first time, while Brave Combat Federation marked its return to Pakistan after a six-year gap.

This Asian MMA Championship, scheduled from 18th to 22nd August 2024, was broadcast live on Pakistan’s first HD sports channel, A Sports, and simultaneously streamed on ARY ZAP.

A total of 12 countries participated in the Asian Championship, featuring more than 180 fighters, 120 officials, and 120 technical staff.

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LAHORE: A total of four Pakistan fighters, three men and a woman, qualified for the final stage of the ongoing Asian MMA Championship in respective categories.

An eventful Day 3 of the Asian MMA Championship, which featured 38 matches, saw Pakistan’s Abdul Manan, Zeeshan Akbar, Shahab Ali and Bano Butt emerging triumphant and taking Team Pakistan into the finals.

In the third round of the women’s Atomweight bout, Bano outclassed India’s Khushboo Nishad via a knockout.

“I worked hard for the semi-final,” said Bano after the win.

“My category was junior but my coach asked me whether I could compete in the senior’s category. I responded positively because I wanted to test myself.

Bano further lauded Indian rival Khushboo and asserted that the latter is like her elder sister.

“The Indian rival is like an elder sister to me but in the cage, nobody’s your friend.

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Bano butt then went on to express her determination to win the Asian MMA Championship Gold medal for Team Pakistan.

Meanwhile, in the Men’s Lightweight category, Shahab Ali downed Team Lebanon’s Fadi Jaber while Abdul Manan knocked out Abdulla Ismaeel to make his way into the final round of the Flyweight category.

Continuing Team Pakistan’s dominance, Zeeshan Akbar made Kutberdi Kurdutulov tap via a rare-neck choke to advance into the final round of the Bantamweight division.

The final round of the Asian MMA Championship 2024 will be comprised of 22 bouts in different divisions.

A total of six Pakistan fighters, three men and as many women, will feature in the final as Eman Khan and Bushra Ahmed had already progressed on technical grounds.

The Asian Championship of MMA is being held in Pakistan for the first time, while Brave Combat Federation marked its return to Pakistan after a six-year gap.

This Asian MMA Championship, scheduled from 18th to 22nd August 2024, is being broadcast live on Pakistan’s first HD sports channel, A Sports, and simultaneously streamed on ARY ZAP.

A total of 12 countries are participating in the Asian Championship, featuring more than 180 fighters, 120 officials, and 120 technical staff will participate in the competitions.

READ: Babar Azam bags an unwanted first in Test cricket