Mohammad Haris to Lead Stallions in Champions One-Day Cup; Shaheen Afridi Takes Charge of Lions
Mohammad Haris, the captain of Pakistan Shaheens, will be taking on the leadership role for the Stallions in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, with former Pakistan cricket star Shoaib Malik stepping in as mentor. The Stallions are set to begin their campaign against Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lions on Friday, September 13, at 3 pm local time.
Haris expressed confidence in his squad, which he considers one of the strongest in the tournament, and acknowledged the high expectations from fans as they kick off their journey.
“It’s an honor to captain the Stallions in the Champions One-Day Cup. We have a star-studded lineup featuring some of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket, and naturally, the fans expect great things from us,” Haris said.
With Shoaib Malik’s legacy as a former captain of both Pakistan and the Stallions, Haris is eager to maintain the team’s winning tradition in domestic cricket. He emphasized the importance of setting high standards as they prepare for the tournament.
“The Stallions have a rich history of success in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. With the talent we have, I’m confident we’ll put on a great show for both the fans in the stadium and the TV audience.”
Haris is also mindful of the challenges in the Champions One-Day Cup, which features some of the best cricket players in Pakistan. He expects the competition to be fierce.
“The Champions One-Day Cup is going to be thrilling. Every team is strong, and the 50-over format will test our abilities. I hope fans in Faisalabad turn up in large numbers to support the tournament.”
Stallions Squad
(Will be reduced to 15 players on September 10):
- Mohammad Haris (captain, Peshawar)
- Abrar Ahmed (Karachi)
- Adil Amin (Peshawar)
- Azam Khan (Peshawar)
- Babar Azam (Lahore)
- Haris Rauf (Islamabad)
- Hussain Talat (Lahore)
- Jahandad Khan (Rawalpindi)
- Junaid Ali (Lahore)
- Maaz Ahmad Sadaqat (Peshawar)
- Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi)
- Mohammad Ali (Sialkot)
- Mohammad Amir Khan (Swat)
- Saad Khan (Hyderabad)
- Shamyl Hussain (Islamabad)
- Shan Masood (Karachi)
- Tayyab Tahir (Sarai Alamgir)
- Ubaid Shah (Lahore)
- Yasir Khan (Rawalpindi)
- Zaman Khan (Mirpur)
Mentor: Shoaib Malik
Stallions Match Schedule
(All matches begin at 3 pm):
- September 13: Stallions vs Lions
- September 15: Wolves vs Stallions
- September 19: Stallions vs Dolphins
- September 21: Panthers vs Stallions
Shaheen Afridi to Lead Lions in Champions One-Day Cup
Shaheen Shah Afridi, the two-time HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) winning captain, will head the Lions team in the Champions One-Day Cup at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. Afridi, who made his domestic One-Day Cup debut in Faisalabad in 2018, is excited to lead his team under the mentorship of former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.
“Leading the Lions will be a thrilling experience, especially with such talented young players in the squad. I’m ready to give my all — whether with the ball, the bat, or through leadership,” Shaheen said.
Afridi reflected on his 2018 debut and feels proud to return with more international experience. He hopes to guide the young talent on his team to create memorable experiences.
With their first match against the strong Stallions squad, Shaheen highlighted the need for thorough preparation as they face tough competition throughout the tournament.
“Our first game against the Stallions shows the level of competition we’ll face. That’s why we need to be fully prepared to perform from the very start,” he emphasized.
Lions Squad
(Will be trimmed to 15 players on September 10):
- Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain, Peshawar)
- Abdullah Shafique (Sialkot)
- Aamir Jamal (Islamabad)
- Aamer Yamin (Multan)
- Faisal Akram (Multan)
- Hassan Nawaz (Islamabad)
- Hunain Shah (Lahore)
- Imam-ul-Haq (Lahore)
- Imran Butt (Lahore)
- Khushdil Shah (Bannu)
- Mohammad Asghar (Karachi)
- Muhammad Irfan Khan (Mianwali)
- Mohammad Taha (Karachi)
- Omair Bin Yousuf (Karachi)
- Rohail Nazir (Islamabad)
- Shahab Khan (Mardan)
- Sharoon Siraj (Sahiwal)
- Sirajuddin (Bajaur)
- Waqar Hussain (Okara)
Mentor: Waqar Younis
Lions Match Schedule
- September 13: Stallions vs Lions (day/night match, 3 pm start)
- September 16: Lions vs Panthers (day match, 9:30 am start)
- September 20: Lions vs Wolves (day/night match, 3 pm start)
- September 22: Lions vs Dolphins (day/night match, 3 pm start)
