Former Pakistan captain and all-format head coach Misbah-ul-Haq has been officially appointed as the mentor for the Wolves team in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, set to take place in Faisalabad from September 12-29.
This announcement follows the recent appointment of Shoaib Malik as the mentor for the Stallions team. The team allocations for other mentors, including Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Waqar Younis, are expected to be revealed soon.
Misbah’s Wolves team will train and prepare at the Faisalabad Cricket Academy during the 2024-25 domestic cricket season, while Shoaib Malik’s Stallions will be based at the Sialkot Cricket Academy.
The Champions One-Day Cup will feature 150 of the country’s top cricketers in a highly competitive 50-over tournament. The event will be played in a single-league format, with the final scheduled for Sunday, September 29. Matches will primarily start at 3 PM, except for the Lions vs. Panthers game on September 16, which will begin at 9:30 AM.
Misbah-ul-Haq’s Wolves will face off against the Panthers on the opening day, September 12, followed by matches against the Stallions on September 15, the Dolphins on September 17, and the Lions on September 20.
Misbah-ul-Haq, known as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, led the team to 26 victories out of 56 Tests, achieving the No.1 ranking in the ICC Test Team Rankings in August 2016. He also made history by equaling the then-world record for the fastest Test century, scoring a 56-ball 100 against Australia in 2014.
Expressing his enthusiasm for his new role, Misbah said, “I am excited to reunite with Wolves as a mentor and play a crucial role in shaping the future of our emerging cricketers. This role not only allows me to share my experience and knowledge but also gives me a chance to complete some unfinished business from 2019 and bring my vision to life.”
He added, “The Champions One-Day Cup is an electrifying event where the best players in the country will compete fiercely in a format where every match is crucial. This tournament promises to deliver high-quality cricket to Faisalabad fans and inspire our players to perform at their peak, while also providing a platform for the PCB to showcase and elevate this premier event.”
Misbah emphasized the importance of the tournament in discovering and nurturing the next generation of talent for Pakistan’s national team, particularly with upcoming ODIs against Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, a home tri-series, and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 on the horizon.
