LAHORE: Mohammad Rizwan’s UMT Markhors will take on Shadab Khan’s Panthers in the much-anticipated opening match of the Champions One-Day Cup at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad on Thursday.
The tournament, which will showcase the best cricketing talent from across the country, has a prize pool of PKR 49 million. The team that lifts the trophy on September 29 will bag PKR 30 million, while the second runner-up will get PKR 15 million.
The Champions One-Day Cup is designed to provide a highly intense competitive environment for both established and emerging cricketers to showcase their talents. With five teams vying for it, the tournament is a key stepping stone for those looking to break into Pakistan’s national side for next year’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
Ahead of the opening match, Mohammad Rizwan, captain of UMT Markhors, emphasized the importance of the tournament for player development: “A high-quality domestic event like the Champions One-Day Cup is the lifeblood of any leading cricketer. nation. It will be a tough competition and the team that performs consistently over the next 15 days will emerge victorious.”
Echoing similar sentiments, Panthers captain Shadab Khan highlighted the importance of the event: “Only a team that shows consistency will make it to the top and I strongly believe we have what it takes to be that team. Starting the season at a high-pressure tournament like this will set the tone for the rest of the 2024-25 season.”
The Champions One-Day Cup is not just another tournament – it is a critical opportunity for Pakistan’s best cricketers to make their mark ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. The top players are likely to strengthen their case for selection in Pakistan’s ODI squad for the Australia-Zimbabwe series , South Africa and a home tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa leading up to the ICC main event.
With Gary Kirsten, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, and Jason Gillespie, the red-ball coach, set to watch the tournament, outstanding performances will be under close watch.
platoon:
PANTHERS: Shadab Khan (captain), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Ahmed Bashir, Amad Butt, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Umar, Mohammad Zeeshan, Mubasir Khan, Rizwan Mehmood, Saim Ayub, Umar S Mird and Usman Khan
MARKHORS: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abdul Samad, Akif Javed, Ali Usman, Bismillah Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haseebullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Nawaz, Na Muhammad Sarmad Ahmad, Na Muhammad Sarmad Ahmad , Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mehmood
