PCB unveils schedule, squads for National Champions Cup

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule and team squads for the National Champions Cup to be held from August 11 to 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, 24NewsHD TV reported on Monday. 

A total of seven matches, including the final, will be held under lights, with day-night fixtures beginning at 3:00 pm.

The National Selection Committee has formed four squads of 11 players each, while 13 reserve players have also been named.

The tournament will feature four teams: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Gold, Pakistan Whites, and Pakistan Blues.

Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saim Ayub, and Sahibzada Farhan have been appointed captains of the respective sides.

The PCB has named Ejaz Junior, Misbah-ul-Haq, Iqbal Imam, and Aizaz Cheema as head coaches for the four teams.

Squads in alphabetical order

Pakistan Greens:

Shadab Khan (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Farhan Yousuf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper) and Sameer Minhas

Pakistan Whites:

Saim Ayub (captain), Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Shahzaib Khan and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Pakistan Blues:

Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Hasan Ali, Hussain Talat, Jahandad Khan, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Shamyl Hussain, Sufyan Moqim, Taimur Khan (wicket-keeper) and Tayyab Tahir

Pakistan Gold:

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Nawaz, Muhammad Akhlaq (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Imran and Saad Khan

Reserve pool:

Batters - Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Faiq, Muhammad Irfan Khan

All-rounders – Mubasir Khan, Danish Aziz

Pacers – Arshad Iqbal, Muhammad Salman, Razaullah, Saqib Khan, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahnawaz Dahani

Wicket-keeper – Haseebullah  

Speaking on the tournament, Pakistan's Director of High Performance Aaqib Javed said the PCB aims to provide players with maximum exposure to one-day cricket ahead of the World Cup.