Sports Bulletin

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, will begin from 26 October. Eighteen teams from the 16 regions will participate in the four-day tournament that will conclude on 19 December.The 18 teams include Abbottabad Region, AJK Region, Bahawalpur Region, Dera Murad Jamali Region, Faisalabad Region, FATA Region, Hyderabad Region, Islamabad Region, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Lahore Region Blues, Larkana Region, Multan Region, Peshawar Region, Quetta Region, Rawalpindi Region and Sialkot Region.Karachi Region Whites will defend the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title this year after the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side defeated Faisalabad Region in the final by 456 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium from 22 to 26 October 2023. Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director - Domestic Cricket Operations said: “Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is the pinnacle of domestic cricket in Pakistan as it is not just a tournament but also an event that showcases the immense talent across the country and prepares them for the challenges of international cricket. As always, we will continue to provide the best possible platform for players to excel and show their capabilities on the biggest stage in domestic cricket as they will be rubbing their shoulders with the best players of the country. Earlier we demonstrated a successful Champions One-Day Cup, and are fully committed to strengthening our domestic structure. The successful execution of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy remains at the heart of this commitment.” 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE (PR): Over 12, 000 players participated in the trials aiming to select the upcoming talented cricketers for “Player Development Program” (PDP) at the Qalandars-UOL High-Performance Centre in the University of Lahore, as the selected players will be announced on Monday (tomorrow), and they will have the opportunity to advance their cricketing careers under the guidance of experienced professionals.  In an impressive display of talent and determination, over 12,000 aspiring cricketers from diverse backgrounds participated, showcasing their skills in hopes of securing a spot in the shortlisted list for the program. The rigorous trials spanned an extensive day, during which batters, bowlers, and wicketkeepers underwent thorough evaluations to demonstrate their abilities.The trials were overseen by PDP's poster boy, Haris Rauf, along with Lahore Qalandars’ captain, Shaheen Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, and the batch of senior coaching staff. Their involvement not only inspired the participants but also ensured a comprehensive assessment of each player's potential.The event was further distinguished by the presence of Punjab Sports Minister Faisal Ayub Khokhar, who graced the occasion with his support for grassroots cricket development. He shared the stage with Lahore Qalandars Owner and CEO Atif Rana alongside Chairman University of Lahore Awais Raoof.Atif Rana, Owner & CEO of Lahore Qalandars, said: “I am excited to see such a remarkable turnout of young talent. Every time we announce our PDP trials, thousands of aspiring cricketers come together to showcase their skills, which speaks volumes about their trust in our system. Our journey, which began nine years ago, continues to make significant progress, and I am immensely grateful to all stakeholders for their unwavering support. We remain committed to making a meaningful impact, nurturing talent, and inspiring these young players to dream big alongside us. Through sports, we shape communities and create tomorrow's champions, both on and off the field.”Faisal Ayub Khokhar, Punjab Sports Minister said: “The energy and passion displayed by these players are truly unparalleled. These young kids come here with the dream of one day representing Pakistan. Witnessing this extensive program function successfully, I see a perfect alignment between discovering talent and providing opportunities. This synergy is crucial, particularly with prominent organizations like Lahore Qalandars and the University of Lahore stepping up to fulfill their roles. Together, they are transforming raw talent into stars for our nation. The collaboration between the University and Lahore Qalandars ensures that students can achieve their academic aspirations while also building a bright future in sports.”

Faisalabad (PR) Lake City Panthers became the winners of the inaugural Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup as they beat UMT Markhors by five wickets in the final here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Sunday evening. Out of a PKR49 million prize pot, the Shadab Khan-led Lake City Panthers bagged prize money of PKR30 million while the UMT Markhors collected the runners-up prize of PKR15 million.Panthers bundled out the Markhors, after they opted to bat first, for a mere 122-run total in 33.4 overs and then took just 18 overs to chase it down with five wickets in the bag as skipper Shadab Khan hit the winning six. Abdul Wahid Bangalzai top scored for Panthers with 41 off 43 balls hitting five fours and two sixes. Earlier, three wicket hauls by Arafat Minhas (3-1) and Mohammad Hasnain (3-38), who also finished with a tournament tally of 17 wickets, backed up by player of the match performance by Sajid Khan (2-24) dented the Markhors progress with the bat as they collapsed from 82-2 in 18.2 overs to 122 all out in 33.4 overs. Shadab and Ali Raza also picked up one wicket each. After Markhors copped two early blows with the scorecard reading 26-2 in 5.3 overs, Haseebullah (27, 48b, 3x4s) stitched a 56-run third-wicket partnership with Fakhar Zaman who top scored for the Markhors with 46 off 49 balls clubbing five fours and one six. Off-spinner Sajid got rid of both the set batters in 19th and 21st overs to spark a batting collapse as Markhors lost their last eight wickets in 15.2 overs. Apart from Haseebullah and Fakhar, only Bismillah Khan (16, 37b, 2x4s) reached double figures for Markhors. In turn, Panthers’ opening batters raced to 51 in 7.4 overs before Umar Siddiq departed for 19 with the help of three fours. Sajid (15, 13b, 2x4s, 1x6), promoted to bat at No.3, was the second batter to be dismissed as Markhors struck regular blows to reduce the Panthers from 51-1 to 94-5 in 15 overs. Usman Khan, who finished as the top run-scorer of the tournament with 272 runs in six games, only contributed 13 off eight balls hitting a four and a six. Rizwan Mehmood (16 not out, 12b, 3x4s) and Shadab (14, 9b, 1x4, 1x6) stitched a 29-run stand for the sixth wicket to take their team home safely.For Markhors, Mohammad Imran Jnr and Akif Javed picked up two wickets each while Shahnawaz Dahani dismissed one batter.Scores in briefFinal – Lake City Panthers beat UMT Markhors by five wickets  UMT Markhors 122 all out, 33.4 overs (Fakhar Zaman 46, Haseebullah 27; Arafat Minhas 3-1, Mohammad Hasnain 3-38, Sajid Khan 2-24, Ali Raza 1-19, Shadab Khan 1-20) Lake City Panthers 123-5, 18 overs (Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 41, Umar Siddiq 19, Rizwan Mehmood 16 not out, Sajid Khan 15, Shadab Khan 14 not out; Mohammad Imran Jnr 2-11, Akif Javed 2-42) Bahria Town Player of the match: Sajid Khan (Lake City Panthers)Mentors’ choice Emerging Player of the Tournament: Ali Raza - Lake City Panthers (Four wickets)Trans Group Wicket-keeper of the Tournament: Usman Khan – Lake City Panthers (7 dismissals)Inverex Solar Energy energetic Batter of the Tournament: Usman Khan – Lake City Panthers (272 runs)Trans Group best Bowler of the Tournament: Mohammad Hasnain – Lake City Panthers (17 wickets)Bahria Town Player of the Tournament: Mohammad Hasnain – Lake City Panthers (17 wickets).

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Aleem Dar, widely regarded as one of the world’s most respected and admired cricket umpires, will retire at the end of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 2024-25 season, concluding a career that has spanned nearly a quarter of a century. A true gentleman both on and off the field, Aleem is also a three-time winner of the prestigious David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year (2009-2011).The 56-year-old Aleem also enjoyed a playing career of 17 first-class and 18 List-A matches between 1986 and 1998, before he made his first-class umpiring debut during the 1998-99 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. From 2003 to 2023, he served on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, where he earned a reputation for his player management skills, understanding of the playing conditions, calm demeanor and outstanding decision-making.He is currently part of the PCB’s Elite Panel and remains one of four Pakistani umpires on the ICC’s International Panel, making him eligible to officiate in ODIs and T20Is. To date, Aleem has officiated in a record-breaking 145 Tests, 231 ODIs, 72 T20Is, 5 WT20Is, 181 first-class matches, and 282 List-A matches.His contributions to the sport extend far beyond these numbers, with his professionalism and respectful manner making him a beloved figure worldwide.Reflecting on his decision to retire, Aleem Dar said: “Umpiring has been my life for nearly 25 years and I have cherished the privilege of officiating some of the most iconic matches involving the greatest players of this generation. Throughout my career, I’ve strived to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship, and it has been an honour to work alongside some of the finest match officials in the world. However, all great journeys must eventually come to an end, and the time has come for me to focus fully on my social and charity work. My hospital project and other initiatives are very close to my heart and require my full devotion and attention. Having achieved almost everything that I had aspired to in umpiring with the unwavering support of my peers and colleagues, I also feel it’s the right moment to step aside and allow emerging umpires to shine. It is my hope that they too will have the same opportunities to make their mark on the great game of cricket and represent Pakistan with pride.”

PCB ReportFAISALABAD: Babar Azam smashed his 30th List-A century, becoming the first Pakistan batter to register 30 or more List-A centuries, as Allied Bank Stallions triumphed over Engro Dolphins by 174 runs here at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Thursday evening.For the second consecutive game Dolphins failed to chase a total as they followed their yesterday’s score of 192 all out by 97 all out in pursuit of the 272-run target.Stallions made it two out of three wins as they qualified for the playoff stage, along with UMT Markhors and Lake City Panthers, while the Dolphins faced their third consecutive defeat. Lions and Dolphins are fighting for the fourth place in the playoff stage and will face each other on 22 September.Babar hit an unbeaten 104 off 100 balls clubbing seven fours and three sixes including a boundary on penultimate ball of the innings to bring up his record century. Yasir Khan (46, 58b, 5x4s), Shan Masood (34, 36b, 3x4s) and Tayyab Tahir (33, 49b, 4x4s) were the other notable contributors. In turn, Mehran Mumtaz (3-14) and Jahandad Khan (3-18) picked up three wickets each as Dolphins fell for a paltry 97 in just 25 overs.After Stallions won the toss and elected to bat first, Shan and Yasir provided a solid opening partnership of 76 runs before falling in 13th and 17th overs, respectively. Babar and Tayyab stitched a 57-run third-wicket partnership before the latter fell in the 30th over.Husaain Talat chipped in with 23 off 25 balls with the help of two fours while also adding 46 with Babar for the fifth wicket. The eighth-wicket partnership between Babar and Haris Rauf stretched for 41 runs in 23 balls with the latter only contributing three runs. All six Dolphins bowlers picked up one wicket each.Jahandad’s three-wicket burst with the new ball left Dolphins at 40-3 before the other bowlers struck at regular intervals as they lost remaining seven wickets for just 57 runs. Abrar Ahmed dismissed the top scorers for Dolphins, Sahibzada Farhan (32, 36b, 6x4s) and Asif Ali (21, 28b, 3x4s). Haris Rauf bagged two wickets as well.Scores in brief (Allied Bank Stallions beat Engro Dolphins by 174 runs):Allied Bank Stallions 271-7, 50 overs (Babar Azam 104 not out, Yasir Khan 46, Shan Masood 34, Tayyab Tahir 33; Saud Shakeel 1-14, Qasim Akram 1-42, Faheem Ashraf 1-48)Engro Dolphins 97 all out, 25 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 32, Asif Ali 21; Mehran Mumtaz 3-14, Jahandad Khan 3-18, Abrar Ahmed 2-15, Haris Rauf 2-28)Player of the match: Babar Azam (Allied Bank Stallions) 

Zahid Mehmood (5 for 18) halts Stallions to achieve target, Markhors to face Dolphin on Sep 18PCB ReportFAISALABAD: UMT Markhors beat Allied Bank Stallions by 126 runs as the latter folded for 105 all out in 23.4 overs while chasing 232 runs in the fourth match of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Sunday at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Markhors will play their next match on 18 September against Dolphins.In a remarkable batting collapse the Stallions lost eight wickets for just 26 runs in a space of 54 balls as Zahid Mehmood (5-18) and Salman Ali Agha (3-21) ran through their batting line-up. Stallions were cruising at 79-2 requiring 153 runs from 211 balls but then lost their way. Zahid took just 4.4 overs to register his maiden List-A fiver-fer.Naseem Shah took first two wickets as Yasir Khan was caught behind in the 5th over while Shan Masood (19, 21b, 2x4s) chopped one on in 10th over to leave Stallions 52-2. Babar, the only Stallions batter other than Shan to enter double figures, looked in good touch for 45 off 44 balls accumulating eight boundaries but became Zahid’s first prey in 16th over.Earlier, Jahandad Khan’s career best List-A figures of 4-49 and Mehran Mumtaz’s 3-56 restricted the Markhors to 231 all out with 30 balls to spare. Markhors were reduced to 38-3 in in 8.2 overs with Fakhar Zaman (20, 24b, 2x4s), Mohammad Faizan (2, 8b) and Kamran Ghulam (11, 13b, 2x4s) back in the hut as Mohammad Ali, Jahandad and Abrar struck respectively, on regular intervals.Half-centuries from Salman Ali Agha and Iftikhar Ahmed brought the momentum back to the Markhors’ innings as the duo put on 65-run for the fifth-wicket partnership. Salman departed after scoring 51 off 72 balls with the help of three fours and one six with the scorecard reading 159-5.Iftikhar, batting at No.6, contributed 60 vital runs taking 66 balls as he hit eight boundaries. Abdul Samad (37, 35b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Iftikhar’s joint stand of 62 for the sixth-wicket meant that Markhors crossed 200-run mark but with Samad holing Mehran to long-on at the score of 221, the Stallions then took no time to wrap up the innings. Markhors lost their last five wickets for mere 10 runs as they managed 231 in 45 overs.Scores in brief (UMT Markhors beat Allied Bank Stallions by 126 runs)UMT Markhors 231 all out, 45 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 60, Salman Ali Agha 51, Abdul Samad 37, Mohammad Rizwan 33; Jahandad Khan 4-49, Mehran Mumtaz 3-56)Allied Bank Stallions 105 all out, 23.4 overs (Babar Azam 45, Shan Masood 19; Zahid Mehmood 5-18, Salman Ali Agha 3-21, Naseem Shah 2-24)Player of the match: Zahid Mehmood (UMT Markhors)

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB has confirmed match officials for the cricket season 2024-25 following an annual appraisal process. There is no change to the PCB Elite Panel of Match Referees, while, following feedback from the ICC, there is also no change in the ICC International Panel of Match Referees and Umpires.PCB Elite Panel of Match Referees: Aleem Khan Moosa (Karachi), Athar Laiq (Karachi), Bilal Moinul Haq Khiljee (Lahore), Iftikhar Ahmed (Karachi), Kamran Chaudhry (Lahore), Mohammad Aslam (Quetta), Mohammad Iqbal Sheikh (Hyderabad), Nadeem Arshad (Faisalabad), Sohail Idrees (Lahore)PCB Elite Panel of Umpires: Abdul Moqeet (Lahore), Ahmed Shahab (Lahore), Aleem Dar (Lahore), Aley Haider (Karachi), Asif Yaqoob (Islamabad), Aslam Bareach (Quetta), Faisal Khan Aafreedi (Sargodha), Farooq Ali Khan (Abbottabad), Ghulam Sarwar (Sibi), Imran Jawed (Karachi), Imranullah Aslam (Bahawalpur), Kashif Sohail (Khanewal), Khalid Mehmood Sr. (Karachi), Majid Hussain (AJK), Mohammad Asif (Lahore), Mohammad Sajid (Charsadda), Nasir Hussain (Lahore), Qaiser Waheed (Lahore), Rana Mohammad Arshad (Faisalabad), Rashid Riaz Waqar (Lahore), Saqib Khan (Abbottabad), Shozab Raza (Lahore), Syed Imtiaz Iqbal (Karachi), Tariq Rasheed (Lahore), Waleed Yaqub (Lahore), Zulfiqar Jan (Charsadda)PCB Supplementary Panel of Match Referees: Abu-al-Hasnat Rao (Lahore), Ahmer Saeed (Karachi), Ali Gohar (Karachi), Fazal Akbar Shah (Peshawar), Ghulam Mustafa (Kasur), Inamullah Khan (Lahore), Mohammad Amiruddin Ansari (Karachi), Saman Zulfiqar (Sheikhupura), Samiul Haq (Faisalabad), Sohail Khan (Lahore)PCB Supplementary Panel of Umpires: Abdul Karim (Naseerabad), Ahmed Nadeem (Peshawar), Aqeel Aadil Khan (Karachi), Asif Farooq Awan (Gujranwala), Dilshad Ali (Multan), Haroon Malik (Sargodha), Hashim Ali (Lodhran), Hassan Mahmood (Lahore), Irfan Haider (Islamabad), Jamshid Iqbal (Peshawar), Kamran Khalil (Lahore), Mohammad Basit (Lahore), Mohammad Fayyaz (Peshawar), Mohammad Imran (Sargodha), Mohammad Irfan Dilshad (Lahore), Mohammad Kaleem (Lahore), Mohammad Waqas (Lahore), Naseer Ahmed (Chakwal), Qaiser Waheed (Lahore), Rafiq Ahmad (Dadu), Raza Asghar (Sheikhupura), Saleem Butt (Rawalpindi), Sultan Mahmood (Loralai), Syed Fahim Ahmed Bukhari (Karachi), Waqar Ahmed (Islamabad), Zeeshan Arif (Mirpur, AJK)PCB Development Panel of Umpires: Aamer Atta (Dera Ghazi Khan), Abdul Basit (Rawalpindi), Abdul Qayoom (Karachi), Abrar Ahmed (Kasur), Adnan Rashid (Lahore), Ajmal Khan (Swat), Anser Mahmood (Pattoki), Asim Alvi (Karachi), Farooq Anwar Bajwa (Faisalabad), Farooq Jan (Charsadda), Furqan Butt (Lahore), Ghayyur Hussain (Peshawar), Hameed Khan (Quetta), Hidayatullah (Pishin), Imran Naseem (Okara), Jaffar Hussian (Peshawar), Khalid Mahmood Jr (Quetta), Khalid Younas (Kohat), Khalil Ahmad Siddiqi (Kasur), Maqbool Ahmed (Faisalabad), Mehtab Hussain (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Aamir Sharif (Kohat), Mohammad Arif (Dera Ismail Khan), Mohammad Asif Jr (Multan), Mohammad Imran Jr (Bahawalnagar), Mohammad Masood Afridi (Peshawar), Mohammad Shafiqul Hai (Dera Ismail Khan), Mohammad Yousaf (Dera Ghazi Khan), Mumtaz Ali (Loralai), Muneeb Ahsan (Attock), Munir Ahmed (Kasur), Naik Mohammad (Kohat), Nasar Khan (Mardan), Naveed Khan (Nowshehra), Noor ul Hakam (Buner), Raweed Khan (Charsadda), Sadiq Amin (Charsadda), Sagheer Ahmed (Lahore), Saifullah Khan (Sargodha), Shahid Aslam (Karachi), Shahid Naseem (Rawalpindi), Sheraz Ahmed Rajput (Lahore), Sohail Khan (Charssada), Sohail Zaman Khattak (Peshawar), Waqas Zeb (Lahore), Waseemuddin (Kohat)PCB Women’s Panel of Umpires: Afia Amin (Lahore), Ayesha Farooq (Lahore), Fakhira Kazim Syeda (Muzaffarabad), Humairah Farah (Lahore), Nazia Nazir (Lahore), Riffat Mustafa (Kasur), Sabahat Rasheed (Lahore), Saleema Imtiaz (Karachi), Sania Ashraf (Lahore), Shakila Rafiq (Kasur), Sukhan Faiz (Multan), Sumaira Sajid (Lahore), Zakia Gul (Khairpur). 

Usman (111), Hasnain (5-74) script convincing win for Lake City PanthersSports Bulletin ReportFAISALABAD: Lake City Panthers trounced Dolphins by 50 runs in the third game of Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup on Saturday at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad on Saturday night.Dolphins got off to a steady start in pursuit of the 329-run target as the opening batters Mohammad Huraira (39, 30b, 3x4s, 3x6s) and Sahibzada Farhan (52, 69b, 4x4s, 1x6) put on 68 runs before the former fell to Shadab Khan in 13th over.Usama Mir eked out Muhammad Akhlaq and Sahibzada in the 20th and 22nd overs, respectively prompting a batting collapse for Dolphins as they went from 109-1 to 166-5.Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Saud Shakeel and Asif Ali before Qasim Akram and Faheem Ashraf fought back with a 78-run sixth-wicket partnership. Qasim was castled by Hasnain in the 42nd over for 65 off 62 balls (8x4s, 1x6) bringing Panthers back in the game.The right-arm pacer from Hyderabad soon dismissed Mohammad Abbas Afridi and then Faheem Ashraf (41, 35b, 4x4s, 1x6) to register his third List-A five-wicket haul. Dolphins fell 50 runs short as they were bundled out for 278 in 47 overs. Mubasir Khan and Usama bagged two wickets each while Shadab picked up one.Earlier, Usman Khan’s maiden List-A century coupled with brisk half-centuries from Haider Ali and Shadab propelled the Panthers past 300-run mark. Usman hit 11 fours and three sixes in his 111 which came off 110 balls as he lifted his team from 19-2 by stitching a 70-run third-wicket partnership with Umar Siddiq (30, 39b, 2x4s, 1x6) With Umar and Mubasir departing in 18th and 22nd overs, respectively and Panthers reeling at 105-4, Usman and Haider Ali joined forces to fetch 103 runs for the fifth-wicket. Haider struck five boundaries and three sixes in his 46-ball 63-run outing.Skipper Shadab, who walked in during the 35th over, registered his sixth List-A fifty, as he raced to 65 off 45 balls clubbing five fours and two sixes. Usama Mir’s 13-ball cameo yielding 22 runs helped the Panthers post 328 runs before they were bundled out in 49.4 overs. For Dolphins, Usman Qadir bagged three wickets while Mir Hamza and Abbas Afridi picked up two each. Faheem Ashraf dismissed one batter.Scores in brief (Lake City Panthers won by 50 runs):Lake City Panthers 328 all out, 49.4 overs (Usman Khan 111, Shadab Khan 65, Haider Ali 63, Umar Siddiq 30; Usman Qadir 3-63, Mir Hamza 2-50, Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-68)Dolphins 278 all out, 47 overs (Qasim Akram 65, Sahibzada Farhan 52, Faheem Ashraf 41, Mohammad Huraira 39, Saud Shakeel 24; Mohammad Hasnain 5-74, Usama Mir 2-48, Mubasir Khan 2-58)Player of the match: Mohammad Hasnain (Lake City Panthers) 

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD:  The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) today (Thursday) revealed Bahria Town as the title sponsor of the Champions One-Day Cup, which is set to run from 12-29 September in Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium.The nomenclature of the tournament, which is set to begin today with the opener between Misbah-ul-Haq mentored UMT Markhors and Saqlain Mushtaq mentored Panthers, will be Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup.Apart from Bahria Town as the title sponsor, the other official sponsors include Blue World City, Inverex Solar Energy, Brighto Paints and Kingdom Valley. Tapal will serve as the official tea partner of the Bahria Town Champions One-Day Cup.Furthermore, Lake City has acquired the naming rights for the Panthers team and will be called Lake City Panthers. Earlier, Allied Bank, Nurpur and UMT (University of Management and Technology) had acquired the naming rights for Stallions, Lions and Markhors (formerly Wolves), respectively.Chief Operating Officer PCB, Salman Naseer said: “The PCB is delighted to welcome Bahria Town on board as the title sponsor of the Champions One-Day Cup. We are thankful to for their support to Champions Cup, which is being participated by country’s best of the best cricketers, and hope this partnership will yield great dividends for our players and teams. Bahria Town and the presence of the other esteemed official sponsors goes beyond mere sponsorship but it also symbolises a shared commitment towards uplifting the sport as the domestic level. I would also like to thank the teams’ official sponsors for their kind support to Pakistan Cricket. The Champions One-Day Cup, with the help of our commercial and media partners, promises to be a highly exciting tournament for the fans in Pakistan.” 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board today (September 6, 2024) 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 3pm, except for the Lions vs Panthers match on 16 September, which will start at 9:30am. The tournament will conclude with three playoff matches over four days, culminating in the final on Sunday, 29 September.Misbah-ul-Haq’s Wolves will face Saqlain Mushtaq’s Panthers in the opening match on 12 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 AhmedLions: Abdullah Shafique, Aamir Jamal, Imam-ul-Haq and Shaheen Shah AfridiPanthers: Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Usama MirStallions: Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Haris, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir and Zaman KhanWolves: Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha and Shahnawaz DahaniCentrally 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 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).Squads: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 AhmedLIONS: 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 YounisPANTHERS: 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 MushtaqSTALLIONS: 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 MalikWOLVES: 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-HaqEvent schedule:12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers13 Sep – Stallions v Lions14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions16 Sep – Lions v Panthers17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins20 Sep – Lions v Wolves21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions24 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.