Champions One-Day Cup begins on Thursday as Mohammad Rizwan’s UMT Markhors will face Shadab Khan’s Panthers in the highly anticipated opening match of the tournament at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. This tournament, showcasing top cricket talent from across Pakistan, boasts a prize pool of PKR 49 million. The winning team on 29 September will take home PKR 30 million, while the runner-up will earn PKR 15 million.
Designed to provide a competitive platform for both seasoned and emerging players, the Champions One-Day Cup serves as a crucial opportunity for cricketers aiming to break into Pakistan’s national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. With five teams competing, the tournament offers a high-intensity environment where top performers can make their mark.
This isn’t just another domestic event—it’s a vital stage for Pakistan’s best cricketers to impress selectors ahead of major international fixtures. Strong performances could bolster a player’s chances for selection in the national ODI squad, which will take part in series against Australia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and a home tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy.
Squads
DOLPHINS: Saud Shakeel (captain), Asif Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Huraira, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Riazullah, Noman Ali, Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, Umar Amin, Usman Qadir; Sarfaraz Ahmed (mentor).
LIONS: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Aamer Yamin, Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ahmed Daniyal, Faisal Akram, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohail Nazir, Sajjad Ali Hashmi, Sharoon Siraj, Sirajuddin; Waqar Younis (mentor).
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, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Muhammad Imran, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mehmood; Misbah ul Haq (mentor).
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 Siddiq, Usama Mir, Usman Khan; Saqlain Mushtaq (mentor)
STALLIONS: Mohammad Haris (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Adil Amin, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Saad Khan, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Ubaid Shah, Yasir Khan, Zaman Khan; Shoaib Malik (mentor).
Champions One-Day Cup Schedule
12 Sep – Markhors v Panthers
13 Sep – Stallions v Lions
14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers
15 Sep – Markhors v Stallions
16 Sep – Lions v Panthers
17 Sep – Dolphins v Markhors
19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins
20 Sep – Lions v Markhors
21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions
22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions
24 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
