Champions Cup a great chance for new players to shine: PCB chairman

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, has highlighted the Champions Cup as an excellent opportunity for emerging cricketers to establish themselves.

During a meeting with the Champions Cup mentors in Faisalabad, Naqvi stressed that the tournament could serve as a crucial platform for new talent to showcase their skills.

Naqvi underscored the significant role mentors will play in branding the Champions Cup, noting their responsibility in enhancing the tournament’s profile.

The PCB chairman also announced plans to upgrade the historic Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, aiming to provide uniform practice facilities for players.

In the meeting, which included discussions with Misbah-ul-Haq, Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq, and Sarfaraz Ahmed, the mentors provided suggestions for improving the pitches and the overall condition of the ground.

Recently the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled the provisional squads for the five teams competing in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, scheduled to take place in Faisalabad on September 12.

The teams—Dolphins, Lions, Stallions, Wolves, and Panthers—will be captained by Pakistan internationals Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Rizwan, and Shadab Khan, respectively. Each team will feature a roster of 30 players.

Previously, the PCB appointed former Pakistani cricket stars as mentors for each team: Sarfraz Ahmed (Dolphins), Waqar Younis (Lions), Shoaib Malik (Stallions), Misbah-ul-Haq (Wolves), and Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers).

These mentors were responsible for selecting the players through a draft process.