FAISALABAD: Wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris on Sunday stated that he is honoured to lead the Stallions side in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup, which will be played at the Iqbal Stadium from 12-29 September.
The Stallions will kick off their tournament campaign against Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lions on Friday, 13 September, with the match scheduled to begin at 3 pm (local time).
Mohammad Haris assessed his squad as being particularly strong and is fully aware of the high expectations as the tournament gets underway.
“It is an honour to lead the star-studded Stallions in the Champions One-Day Cup. We have a strong squad, featuring some of the biggest names in Pakistan cricket, which naturally raises the expectations from the fans,” he said.
With Shoaib Malik, a former Pakistan and Stallions captain, acting as a mentor, Haris acknowledged the legacy left by Malik and the team over the years in various domestic seasons.
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
He aimed to uphold that legacy by setting high standards as they prepare for their first of four league matches on 13 September.
“The Stallions have a rich legacy of winning in Pakistan’s domestic cricket. With the talent and resources we have at our disposal, I assure you that we will entertain both the crowds in the stadium and the television audiences during the tournament.”
Haris is also mindful of the challenges ahead, given the high-calibre competition in the Champions One-Day Cup, which features some of the best players in the country.
“The Champions One-Day Cup is exciting in every sense. All the teams are strong, the conditions are challenging, and the 50-over format will truly test our abilities. I hope the fans in Faisalabad come out in large numbers to enjoy the tournament.”
Stallions squad (to be trimmed to 15 on 10 September)
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) and Zaman Khan (Mirpur)
Mentor – Shoaib Malik
READ: Shaheen Afridi aims to lead Lions ‘from front’ in Champions One-Day Cup