FAISALABAD: Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his aim to lead the Lions from the front with his performances both with the bat and the ball during the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup.
The five-team tournament will be played at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from 12-29 September. This 50-over tournament will be played in a single-league format.
Shaheen Afridi, the two-time Pakistan Super League (PSL) winning captain, reflected on what lies ahead for both him and his team as they enter the tournament under the mentorship of former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.
“Leading the Lions will be a thrilling experience for me, especially given the high stakes of the Champions One-Day Cup and the presence of several young and exciting players on our roster,” said Shaheen.
“I look forward to giving my best to the team — with the ball, the bat, and through my leadership throughout the tournament.”
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Shaheen fondly recalled his debut in the domestic One-Day Cup back in 2018, when he burst onto the scene as a teenage prodigy.
“I have great memories of playing the One-Day Cup in Faisalabad as an 18-year-old in 2018. Returning here as captain with a wealth of international experience feels surreal. I’m committed to helping create memorable experiences for all the young players on our team.”
Speaking about the intensity of the competition, Shaheen emphasised the importance of preparation in the Champions One-Day Cup.
“Our opening game is against a strong Stallions squad, which shows the level of competition we will face game after game. That’s why I firmly believe our preparations must be spot-on so we can hit the ground running.”
LIONS Squad (to be reduced to 15 players on 10 September)
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) and Waqar Hussain (Okara)
Mentor – Waqar Younis
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