Photo Credit: Pakistan Cricket Board
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lions captain):
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the two-time HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) winning captain, will lead the Lions in the Champions One-Day Cup at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. As the towering left-arm pacer prepares for this new challenge, he reflected on what lies ahead for both him and his team as they enter the tournament under the mentorship of former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.
“Leading the Lions will be a thrilling experience for me, especially given the high stakes of the Champions One-Day Cup and the presence of several young and exciting players on our roster. I look forward to giving my best to the team — with the ball, the bat, and through my leadership throughout the tournament,” said Shaheen.
Shaheen fondly recalled his debut in the domestic One-Day Cup back in 2018, when he burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy.
“I have great memories of playing the One-Day Cup in Faisalabad as an 18-year-old in 2018. Returning here as captain with a wealth of international experience feels surreal. I’m committed to helping create memorable experiences for all the young players on our team.”
Speaking about the intensity of the competition, Shaheen emphasised the importance of preparation in the Champions One-Day Cup.
“Our opening game is against a strong Stallions squad, which shows the level of competition we will face game after game. That’s why I firmly believe our preparations must be spot-on so we can hit the ground running.”
Lions Squad (squad to be trimmed to 15 on 10 September): 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
Mohammad Rizwan (Wolves captain)
Mohammad Rizwan will be marshalling the Wolves side with Misbah being the mentor. The home team will be looking to make a successful start to the Champions One-Day Cup when they will feature in the tournament opener against the Shadab Khan’s Panthers on Thursday, 12 September, at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad.
“It is heartening to see a highly-competitive domestic tournament like the Champions One-Day Cup coming to life in Faisalabad. I’m excited to be leading the Wolves, which is like a home team as our academy is based in this vibrant city,” Rizwan told PCB Digital Channel.
Rizwan expected the local crowd to get behind his team and this support will be crucial to the Wolves as they aim to reap glory in their backyard.
“I’m eagerly looking forward to the local crowd supporting Wolves during the tournament and I feel they are going to act as the 12th player for us. With the help of the Almighty, we will try our best to perform well in this tournament.”
Talking about the blend of youth and experience, Rizwan said: “Usually we don’t see such a dynamic blend of the international and young players in domestic competitions and teams but the Champions One-Day Cup stands out in this regard as all the teams have a number of international, domestic and young players on their rosters.”
Wolves squad: 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)
Shadab Khan (Panthers captain)
Shadab Khan will lead the Panthers in the Champions One-Day Cup. Under the mentorship of former Pakistan coach and spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shadab will lead out the Panthers team at a venue where it all started for him in List-A cricket in 2016.
“I’m really excited on my return to Faisalabad for the Champions One-Day Cup because this is where my List-A career started back in the 2015-16 domestic season. It will be a proud feeling for me to return as a more experienced player than when I started out as a teenager. “
Talking about the importance and the timing of the Champions One-Day Cup, Shadab supported the idea of playing 50-over cricket at the start of a season in which Pakistan will take part in more than 15 ODIs within four months, including the all-important ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“I appreciate the PCB for arranging the Champions One-Day Cup right at the start of the domestic season because the white-ball challenge for the Pakistan team is quite demanding in the next six months. This tournament will help most of the players to find their momentum right at the start of the season. “
Shadab also understands the importance of starting any tournament well and that was only possible with a relaxed environment that helped everyone put their best step forward. Being the leader of a fairly young side, Shadab had a few plans on his mind, which will help them do well in the Champions One-Day Cup.
“Being the captain of the Panthers side, I’ll do my best create an environment which helps the players excel in their roles during the tournament. My focus will be on easing the pressure and squeezing the best performances out of the players during this tournament and to lead by example.”
Panthers Squad (The squad will be trimmed to 15 members on 10 September): 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
Mohammad Haris (Stallions captain):
Mohammad Haris, captain of the Pakistan Shaheens, will step into the role of Stallions skipper for the Champions One-Day Cup, joining forces with mentor and former Pakistan star Shoaib Malik. 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).
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 mentor, Haris acknowledged the legacy left by Malik and the team over the years in various domestic seasons. 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-caliber 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
Schedule of matches
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
19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins
20 Sep – Lions v Wolves
21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions
22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions
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