Captains and Provisional Squads Confirmed for Champions One-Day Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed the captains and provisional squads for the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup. The tournament, scheduled to take place in Faisalabad from 12 to 29 September, will see five teams battle it out for the coveted title.

The captains were selected by mentors of each team, including cricket legends Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers), Sarfaraz Ahmed (Dolphins), Shoaib Malik (Stallions), and Waqar Younis (Lions). Among the prominent names leading their squads, Pakistan’s Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel will captain the Dolphins, while former Pakistan T20I captain Shaheen Shah Afridi will helm the Lions. Shadab Khan, the former white-ball vice-captain, has been given the reins of the Panthers, with Mohammad Haris captaining the Stallions, and Mohammad Rizwan leading the Wolves.

The tournament will be played in a single-league format, with matches starting at 3 PM, except for the Lions vs Panthers match on 16 September, which will begin at 9:30 AM. After the league stage, the top teams will compete in three playoff matches, culminating in the final on 29 September.

The squads, selected through a draft from a pool of 150 players, include some of Pakistan’s leading cricketers. A mix of centrally contracted players, experienced domestic performers, and upcoming talents from the Pakistan Shaheens and Under-19 teams have been included. These squads will be finalized on 10 September.