The much-anticipated Champions One Day Cup has officially kicked off in Pakistan, beginning on September 12 and running until September 29. With five competitive teams in the fray, the tournament promises to deliver thrilling cricket moments. The inaugural match features the Markhors, captained by Mohammad Rizwan, facing off against the Panthers, led by Shadab Khan. Excitingly, the Pakistan Cricket Board has also disclosed the prize money that awaits the victors of this prestigious tournament.
Prize Money Breakdown for the Champions One Day Cup
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has unveiled a substantial total prize pool of 34 million Pakistani rupees for the Champions One Day Cup, equivalent to approximately 1 crore 47 lakh Indian rupees. The winning team will take home a lavish reward of 30 million Pakistani rupees (around 90 lakh Indian rupees), while the runner-up will receive 15 million Pakistani rupees (approximately 45 lakh Indian rupees). This significant incentive underscores the tournament’s competitive nature and the drive for excellence among participating teams.
Star-Studded Line-Up of Players
This tournament is not just about teams but also features a host of cricketing icons. Big names such as Saud Shakeel, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, and Fakhar Zaman are set to showcase their talents throughout the competition. The format of the tournament is a round robin, culminating in a grand final, with a total of 14 matches scheduled at the famed Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Additionally, cricketing legends like Misbah-ul-Haq (Markhors), Saqlain Mushtaq (Panthers), and Sarfaraz Ahmed (Dolphins) are mentoring these five teams, adding a wealth of experience and strategic insight.
Overview of Teams and Squads
Each team has assembled a strong squad, aiming for glory in the tournament:
Dolphins Squad
Captain: Saud Shakeel
Players: Aftab Ibrahim, Asif Ali, Awais Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Kashif Ali, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Muhammad Riazullah, Noman Ali, Qasim Akram, Sameen Gul, Sarfaraz Ahmed (wicketkeeper), Sahibzada Farhan, Sufiyan Moqim, Umar Amin, Usman Qadir.
Lions Squad
Captain: Shaheen Shah Afridi
Players: Abdullah Shafique, Aamir Jamal, Aamer Yamin, Faisal Akram, Hasan Nawaz, Hunain Shah, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Butt, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Asghar, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Mohammad Taha, Omair Bin Yousuf, Rohel Nazir, Shahab Khan, Sheron Siraj, Sirajuddin, Waqar Hussain.
Panthers Squad
Captain: Shadab Khan
Players: Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Ahmed Bashir, Ali Asfandy, Ali Raza, Amad Butt, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Umar, Mohammad Zeeshan, Mubasir Khan, Rehan Afridi, Rizwan Mahmood, Saim Ayub, Umar Siddique, Osama Mir, Usman Khan, Usman Salahuddin.
Stallions Squad
Captain: Mohammad Haris
Players: Abrar Ahmed, Adil Amin, Azam Khan, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Junaid Ali, Maaz Ahmed Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Saad Khan, Shamil Hussain, Shan Masood, Tayyab Tahir, Ubaid Shah, Yasir Khan, Zaman Khan.
Markhors Squad
Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Players: Fakhar Zaman, Abdul Samad, Aqif Javed, Ali Usman, Bilawal Bhatti, Hasibullah, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Imran Jr, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Muhammad Imran, Naseem Shah, Nisar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shahnawaz Dahan.
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to a display of exceptional cricketing skill, teamwork, and drama, making the Champions One Day Cup a spectacle not to be missed.
