Tag: Champions Cup

FAISALABAD: Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris on Sunday stated that he is honoured to lead the Stallions side in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played at the Iqbal Stadium from 12-29 September.

The Stallions will kick off their tournament campaign against Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lions on Friday, 13 September, with the match scheduled to begin at 3 pm (local time).

Mohammad Haris assessed his squad as being particularly strong and is fully aware of the high expectations as the tournament gets underway.

“It is an honour to lead the star-studded Stallions in the Champions One-Day Cup. We have a strong squad, featuring some of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket, which naturally raises the expectations from the fans,” he said.

With Shoaib Malik, a former Pakistan and Stallions captain, acting as a mentor, Haris acknowledged the legacy left by Malik and the team over the years in various domestic seasons.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

He aimed to uphold that legacy by setting high standards as they prepare for their first of four league matches on 13 September.

“The Stallions have a rich legacy of winning in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. With the talent and resources we have at our disposal, I assure you that we will entertain both the crowds in the stadium and the television audiences during the tournament.”

Haris is also mindful of the challenges ahead, given the high-calibre competition in the Champions One-Day Cup, which features some of the best players in the country.

“The Champions One-Day Cup is exciting in every sense. All the teams are strong, the conditions are challenging, and the 50-over format will truly test our abilities. I hope the fans in Faisalabad come out in large numbers to enjoy the tournament.”

Stallions squad (to be trimmed to 15 on 10 September)

Mohammad Haris (captain, Peshawar), Abrar Ahmed (Karachi), Adil Amin (Peshawar), Azam Khan (Peshawar), Babar Azam (Lahore), Haris Rauf (Islamabad), Hussain Talat (Lahore), Jahandad Khan (Rawalpindi), Junaid Ali (Lahore), Maaz Ahmad Sadaqat (Peshawar), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Ali (Sialkot), Mohammad Amir Khan (Swat), Saad Khan (Hyderabad), Shamyl Hussain (Islamabad), Shan Masood (Karachi), Tayyab Tahir (Sarai Alamgir), Ubaid Shah (Lahore), Yasir Khan (Rawalpindi) and Zaman Khan (Mirpur)

Mentor – Shoaib Malik

READ: Shaheen Afridi aims to lead Lions ‘from front’ in Champions One-Day Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director High-Performance and Tournament Director Nadeem Khan highlighted the significance of the Champions One-Day Cup, outlining its salient features.

The inaugural Champions One-Day Cup is set to take place at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

Team mentors of the five sides include Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Dolphins), Shoaib Malik (Stallions) and Waqar Younis (Lions), while the PCB announced the captains and provisional squads on Friday.

The tournament featuring the top players across the country will be a 50-over competition played on a single-league format. All matches will start at 3pm, except for the match between Lions and Panthers on September 16, which will begin at 9.30am.

“The concept of the Champions One-Day Cup was initiated in April and we launched it in July. The PCB decided to bring together the best of the best players from its local competitions in order to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket,” said Nadeem Khan.

“For the first time, all the five teams have been allocated their respective regional academies so that the players can train and work on their skills throughout the year. The best thing about the concept is the teams have highly experienced and dedicated mentors who will not only manage the men’s Champions teams but will also be involved at the women’s and age-group cricket, which will have positive effects on Pakistan cricket.

“The five high-profile mentors understand the requirements of the international cricket and they will prepare the players accordingly in the domestic competitions.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten will be arriving on 12 September to witness the entire Champions One-Day Cup and it will surely be exciting for him to work in the domestic circuit in order to look into the young talent with an eye on the upcoming white-ball assignments in Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, followed by the home tri-national series and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Nadeem Khan asserted that the inaugural Champions One-Day Cup will unearth new talent and bolster Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy.

“The Champions One-Day Cup will help us unearth future white-ball prospects for the Pakistan’s white-ball teams, also marking the start of the preparation for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

“Having the Champions Cup in September will allow us to give an extended opportunity to the top performers of this tournament in International cricket before the mega-event commences home.

“With all the national players taking part in the Champions One-Day Cup, the intensity and quality of this domestic tournament will only go up and help us determine the emerging players who can thrive and perform under pressure when they represent Pakistan in future.

“The squads comprise of a good mixture of young and experienced players, and one of our goals is to provide quality dressing room and on-filed exposure and experience to the emerging and U19 players part of the Champions One-Day Cup squads.

“Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (having hosted 24 Tests, 16 ODIs) has been a regular host of international cricket till 2008, but now we have worked actively with the local authorities to bring a high-profile tournament to the city and look forward to a large number of fans attending the Champions One-Day Cup.

“As far as the tournament taking place between two home Test series is concerned, it needs to be understood that this tournament was already in the pipeline since April. All the Boards around the world have their set domestic structures and the tournaments take place according to respective scheduled windows instead of altering them in light of the upcoming home international assignments.

“Moreover, the players in this day and age are professional and used to switching between formats that it should not be a huge concern. In fact, their presence has added quality to the first major domestic tournament of the 2024-25 season.”

READ: PCB to hold high-profile meeting to discuss Pakistan team’s future, captaincy

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today announced the captains of the five Champions One-Day Cup teams, as well as provisional squads for the tournament, which will be held in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

The captains were appointed by the five team mentors: Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Dolphins), Shoaib Malik (Stallions) and Waqar Younis (Lions).

Pakistan’s Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been appointed captain of the Dolphins, former Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Shah Afridi will lead the Lions and the Panthers will be skippered by former white-ball vice-captain, Shadab Khan.

Pakistan Shaheens’ captain Mohammad Haris will lead the Stallions, while ex-all-format vice-captain Mohammad Rizwan will captain the Wolves.

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

All matches will commence at 3 pm, except for the Lions vs Panthers match on 16 September, which will start at 9:30 am.

The tournament will conclude with three playoff matches over four days, culminating in the final on Sunday, 29 September.

The PCB has also announced provisional squads for the five teams. These were selected by the team mentors through a draft process from a pool of 150 players, which was provided by the PCB following fitness tests—one of the primary selection criteria for domestic contracted players.

The centrally contracted players will undergo fitness tests in Faisalabad on 7 and 9 September.

Out of the 150 players, 125 were leading performers from the past three domestic seasons. The remaining 25 players were wildcards, selected based on their experience and performances for Pakistan, Pakistan Shaheens and Pakistan Under-19 teams over the last three years.

Each team includes existing centrally contracted players. These are:

Dolphins: Saud Shakeel, Faheem Ashraf and Sarfaraz Ahmed

Lions: Abdullah Shafique, Aamir Jamal, Imam-ul-Haq and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Panthers: Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Usama Mir

Stallions: Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman Khan

Wolves: Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha and Shahnawaz Dahani

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Centrally contracted players who are not part of the squads include Mohammad Nawaz (personal reasons), Imad Wasim (unavailable), Arshad Iqbal, Hasan Ali, Ihsanullah and Mohammad Wasim Jnr (undergoing rehabilitation).

In addition to Imad Wasim, who is currently playing in the CPL, the following players have made themselves unavailable for the Faisalabad tournament: Ahmed Shehzad, Azam Khan (CPL), Haris Sohail, Mohammad Amir (CPL), Mohammad Abbas (County cricket in the UK), Mohammad Ilyas and Umar Akmal.

Fakhar Zaman, who is also playing in the CPL, is due to return on 10 September.

Other players undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) include Ahsan Ali, Athar Mahmood, Rizwan Hussain, and Zeeshan Zamir, in addition to Arshad Iqbal, Hasan Ali, Ihsanullah, and Mohammad Wasim Jnr.

Nine domestic contracted players were excluded from the Champions One-Day Cup squads after failing their fitness tests.

They are Ali Shafique, Ali Zaryab, Arif Yaqoob, Danish Aziz, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Saad Baig, Rameez Aziz, Sharjeel Khan, and Shawaiz Irfan.

Four cricketers, returning to competitive cricket after successfully passing their fitness tests and completing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, are Hunain Shah (Lions), Sameen Gul, Sufiyan Moqim (both Dolphins), and Shahnawaz Dahani (Wolves).

Champions One-Day Cup Squads (to be reduced to 15 players on 10 Sep)

DOLPHINS: Saud Shakeel (captain, Karachi), Aftab Ibrahim (Karachi), Asif Ali (Faisalabad), Awais Ali (Gujranwala), Faheem Ashraf (Kasur), Kashif Ali (Rawalpindi), Mir Hamza (Karachi), Mohammad Huraira (Sialkot), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Peshawar), Muhammad Akhlaq (Kamoki), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (Karachi), Muhammad Riazullah (Peshawar), Noman Ali (Hyderabad), Qasim Akram (Lahore), Sameen Gul (Jamrud), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Karachi), Sahibzada Farhan (Peshawar), Sufiyan Moqim (Kotli), Umar Amin (Rawalpindi) and Usman Qadir (Lahore)

Mentor – Sarfaraz Ahmed

LIONS: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain, Peshawar), Abdullah Shafique (Sialkot), Aamir Jamal (Islamabad), Aamer Yamin (Multan), Faisal Akram (Multan), Hassan Nawaz (Islamabad), Hunain Shah (Lahore), Imam-ul-Haq (Lahore), Imran Butt (Lahore), Khushdil Shah (Bannu), Mohammad Asghar (Karachi), Muhammad Irfan Khan (Mianwali), Mohammad Taha (Karachi), Omair Bin Yousuf (Karachi), Rohail Nazir (Islamabad), Shahab Khan (Mardan), Sharoon Siraj (Sahiwal), Sirajuddin (Bajaur) and Waqar Hussain (Okara)

Mentor – Waqar Younis

PANTHERS: Shadab Khan (captain, Islamabad), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai (Quetta), Ahmed Bashir (Lahore), Ali Asfand (Faisalabad), Ali Raza (Sheikhupura), Amad Butt (Sialkot), Arafat Minhas (Multan), Azan Awais (Sialkot), Haider Ali (Attock), Mohammad Hasnain (Hyderabad), Mohammad Umar (Karachi), Mohammad Zeeshan (Faisalabad), Mubasir Khan (Rawalpindi), Rehan Afridi (Khyber), Rizwan Mehmood (Hyderabad), Saim Ayub (Karachi), Umar Siddiq (Lahore), Usama Mir (Sialkot), Usman Khan (Karachi) and Usman Salahuddin (Lahore)

Mentor – Saqlain Mushtaq

STALLIONS: Mohammad Haris (captain, Peshawar), Abrar Ahmed (Karachi), Adil Amin (Peshawar), Azam Khan (Peshawar), Babar Azam (Lahore), Haris Rauf (Islamabad), Hussain Talat (Lahore), Jahandad Khan (Rawalpindi), Junaid Ali (Lahore), Maaz Ahmad Sadaqat (Peshawar), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Ali (Sialkot), Mohammad Amir Khan (Swat), Saad Khan (Hyderabad), Shamyl Hussain (Islamabad), Shan Masood (Karachi), Tayyab Tahir (Sarai Alamgir), Ubaid Shah (Lahore), Yasir Khan (Rawalpindi) and Zaman Khan (Mirpur)

Mentor – Shoaib Malik

WOLVES: Mohammad Rizwan (captain, Peshawar), Fakhar Zaman (Abbottabad), Abdul Samad (Faisalabad), Akif Javed (FATA), Ali Usman (Multan), Bilawal Bhatti (Muridke), Haseebullah (Pishin), Iftikhar Ahmed (Peshawar), Kamran Ghulam (Peshawar), Mohammad Faizan (Faisalabad), Mohammad Imran Jnr (Peshawar), Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (FATA), Muhammad Imran (Khanewal), Naseem Shah (Lahore), Nisar Ahmed (Lahore), Salman Ali Agha (Lahore), Shahnawaz Dahani (Larkana), Zahid Mehmood (Dadu) and Zain Abbas (Multan)

Mentor – Misbah-ul-Haq

READ: Brendon McCullum eager to make England white-ball teams ‘bulletproof’

FAISALABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the match officials for the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, including former ICC elite panellist Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob of the ICC’s international panel.

Former Test cricketer Ali Naqvi will lead the Playing Control Team, which will also include Waleed Yaqub and Zulfiqar Jan as third and fourth umpires.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature the country’s 150 best of the best cricketers with stalwarts such as Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik and Waqar Younis involved as mentors.

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Aleem Dar, Asif Yaqoob, Waleed Yaqub and Zulfiqar Jan are amongst a panel of nine umpires who will be officiating in the Champions Cup.

The other five umpires are: Faisal Aafreedi, Imtiaz Iqbal, Imran Jawed, Nasir Hussain and Rashid Riaz

Apart from Ali Naqvi, match referees’ responsibilities will be shared between Bilal Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Iqbal Sheikh, Nadeem Arshad and Kamran Chaudhry.

Umpire and match referee appointments for the three playoffs and the final will be announced closer to time.

Match officials for Champions Cup

12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers. Aleem Dar and Asif Yaqoob (on-field umpires); Waleed Yaqub (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

13 Sep – Stallions v Lions. Aleem Dar and Waleed Yaqub (on-field umpires); Asif Yaqoob (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Ali Naqvi (match referee)

14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers. Asif Yaqoob and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field umpires); Aleem Dar (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Bilal Khilji (match referee)

15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions. Aleem Dar and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires); Waleed Yaqub (third umpire), Zulfiqar Jan (fourth umpire); Bilal Kjilji (match referee)

16 Sep – Lions v Panthers. Waleed Yaqub and Zulfiqar Jan (on-field umpires); Rashid Riaz (third umpire), Imran Jawed (fourth umpire); Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)

17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves. Nasir Hussain and Rashid Riaz (on-field umpires); Imran Jawed (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Iqbal Sheikh (match referee)

19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins. Imran Jawed and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field umpire); Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Waleed Yaqub (fourth umpire); Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)

20 Sep – Lions v Wolves. Imran Jawed and Nasir Hussain (on-field umpires); Rashid Riaz (TV umpire), Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth umpire); Iftikhar Ahmed (match referee)

21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions. Imran Jawed and Nasir Hussain (on-field umpires: Faisal Aafreedi (third umpire), Imtiaz Iqbal (fourth umpire); Nadeem Arshad (match referee)

22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions. Faisal Aafreedi and Imtiaz Iqbal (on-field umpires); Nasir Hussain (third umpire), Imran Jawed (fourth umpire); Kamran Chaudhry (match referee)

Appointments for the playoffs and the final of the Champions Cup will be announced closer to the matches.

READ: Wasim Akram ’embarrassed’ over Pakistan’s series defeat against Bangladesh

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed offered a piece of advice to senior batters Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal ahead of the Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled to run from September 12 to 29.

Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal, who made their respective debuts for Pakistan in 2009, were integral parts of the national team till 2016.

Their last appearance for the national team came in the three-match home T20I series against Sri Lanka in 2019.

Shehzad managed modest scores of four and 13 in the opening two T20Is of the home series respectively while Akmal even failed to score a run as he got out on back-to-back golden ducks.

The duo was subsequently dropped from the third T20I of the series and has not represented Pakistan since then.

Meanwhile, in a recent turn of events, Shehzad announced that he will boycott the upcoming Champions Cup.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

As a result, Dolphins’ mentor for the Champions Cup, Sarfaraz Ahmed advised the duo of Ahmed Shehzad and Umar Akmal to decide if they want to play cricket.

“They should definitely play cricket but if they really want to. Firstly, they need to decide whether they want to play or not,” said Sarfaraz.

“I think both of them are immensely talented players, there’s no doubt about their talent. They played outstanding cricket for Pakistan but I think it’s their own decision,” he added.

Sarfaraz Ahmed then emphasized the need for experienced players in the team, asserting that the emerging players would make their place with time.

“There should be a combination of senior and junior players while playing cricket. We must remember that the senior player cemented his place with a lot of hard work,” Sarfaraz said.

“It has become a trend that ‘we need young players’. A youngster would cement his place by himself with performance,” he added.

READ: “Umar Akmal, Ahmed Shehzad were more talented than us,” Azhar Ali

Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed commented on his professional career’s future after being named the mentor of the Dolphins for the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled to run from September 12 to 29.

Sarfaraz addressed the media after unveiling the Dolphins’ logo and was asked about his future as a professional cricketer. In response, the wicketkeeper batter shared that he wants to play as long as he can.

“This is a great opportunity for me. It’s also a chance for me to learn. I will strive to bring forward good players who can represent Pakistan,” Sarfaraz said.

“I will be available for the Pakistan team. When I will have domestic duties, I will fulfil them. Whenever I am selected, I will be available.

“With time, everything will fall into place. Right now, I feel I can still play. I will continue to play as long as I can.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed also commented on Pakistan’s first-ever Test series defeat against Bangladesh and assured the fans that the national team would make a comeback.

“My message to the fans is that this Pakistan team will make a comeback. Support your players. Support your players in the Champions Cup.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

He expressed his excitement to be given the opportunity to serve as the mentor of the Dolphins, based at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi.

“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 Sarfaraz Ahmed.

“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.”

READ: Pakistan dropped to lowest Test rankings since 1965

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“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

Saqlain Mushtaq has been confirmed as the Panthers’ mentor for this month’s Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played in Faisalabad from 12-29 September.

The Panthers have also been allocated the Inzamam-ul-Haq Cricket Academy in Multan to prepare and train during the 2024-25 domestic cricket season.

So far, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have been named as mentors of the Stallions, Wolves and Lions, respectively, while Sarfaraz Ahmed will later this week confirm his team name and logo.

The Champions One-Day Cup will feature 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 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.

The Panthers will open their campaign against Misbah-ul-Haq’s Wolves on the opening day on 12 September, followed by matches against Dolphins on 14 September, Lions on 16 September and Shoaib Malik’s Stallions on 21 September.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Saqlain Mushtaq (is considered as the inventor of ‘Doosra’; set the record for the most ODI wickets in a calendar year with 65 scalps in 1996; following year, he took 69 wickets in 36 matches to better his own record; took two consecutive 10-wicket hauls against India in the Chennai and Delhi Tests; in 1999, became the only Pakistan bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI World Cups, it was his second ODI hat-trick; became the then fastest to take 200 ODI wickets; named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000; played in three World Cups and two Champions Trophy events; has previously coached some of the top-cricket playing nations, including Pakistan, England, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh)

“Preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 begin with the Champions One-Day Cup, and I am thrilled to play a key role as a mentor for the Panthers, a team featuring some of the finest talent in the country. My objective is clear: to elevate these players’ performance and pushing them to their maximum potential so we can defend our title with distinction.

“The Champions One-Day Cup is more than just a competition; it’s a critical stepping stone for young talent and a cornerstone of Pakistan cricket’s future. The path to the Champions Journey starts with age-group cricket and progresses through district and division levels, ultimately reaching regional and departmental cricket, with the Champions Cup as the final proving ground before achieving national selection.

“I am confident that this well-structured, pyramid-like pathway will nurture skilled and polished players, enabling the Pakistan Cricket Board to build strong, competitive teams across all formats.

“I urge players, fans and all stakeholders to fully support this year’s Champions One-Day Cup. Together, we can ensure its success, laying a strong foundation for the bright and robust future of Pakistan cricket.”

READ: Jason Gillespie backs Shan Masood despite Bangladesh series loss

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“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