Panthers to be mentored by Saqlain Mushtaq

Panthers will have Saqlain Mushtaq as their mentor.

I implore competitors, spectators, and all interested parties to wholeheartedly support the Champions One-Day Cup this year. The former all-around player and off-spinner states, "Together, we can secure its success, building a solid foundation for the bright and robust future of Pakistan cricket."

From September 12 to 29, Faisalabad will host the Champions One-Day Cup. The opening match will feature a head-to-head match between Panthers and Wolves at the Iqbal Stadium.

It has been revealed that Saqlain Mushtaq will coach the Panthers in this month's Champions One-Day Cup, which takes place in Faisalabad from September 12–29. Inzamam-ul-Haq Cricket Academy in Multan has also been assigned to the Panthers for training and preparation ahead of the 2024–25 domestic cricket season.

Sarfaraz Ahmed will finalize his team name and logo later this week. As of right now, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Waqar Younis have been named as the mentors of the Stallions, Wolves, and Lions, respectively.

One-day cricketers from 150 different countries will compete in the Champions One-Day Cup. A single-league structure will be used for this 50-over competition. All games except the Lions vs. Panthers game on September 16, which gets underway at 9.30 a.m., start at 3 p.m. Four days of playoffs will culminate in a final on Sunday, September 29.

On September 12, the Panthers will play Misbah-ul-Haq's Wolves. On September 14, the Dolphins, on September 16, and on September 21, Shoaib Malik's Stallions are the teams the team will play next.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who is credited with creating "Doosra," broke the record for most ODI wickets in a calendar year in 1996 with 65 scalps; the following year, he improved on his own record with 69 wickets in 36 matches; he took two consecutive 10-wicket hauls against India in the Chennai and Delhi Tests; in 1999, he became the only bowler from Pakistan to achieve a hat-trick in an ODI World Cup, his second such feat; he became the fastest person to reach 200 ODI wickets at that time. He was recognized as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000. He has participated in three World Cups and two Champions Trophy events.

"The Champions One-Day Cup serves as a springboard for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, and I'm excited to be a major mentor for the Panthers, a squad that boasts some of the best players in the nation. My goal is very clear: I want to get the best out of these guys and help them reach their full potential so we can successfully defend our title.

The Champions One-Day Cup is more than just a match; it serves as a vital developmental platform for upcoming players and a pillar of Pakistan cricket's future. Age-group cricket is the starting point for the Champions Journey. From there, players advance via the district and division levels to departmental and regional cricket, with the Champions Cup serving as the last stop before being selected for the national team.

"I am convinced that the Pakistan Cricket Board will be able to assemble formidable, competitive teams in all formats thanks to this well-designed, pyramid-shaped pathway that develops talented and polished players.

"I implore athletes, spectators, and all interested parties to wholeheartedly endorse the Champions One-Day Cup this year. By working together, we can make sure it succeeds and provide a solid basis for Pakistan cricket's promising future.

The Panthers' schedule is as follows: Day matches start at 9.30 a.m., and night matches start at 3 p.m.

Wolves vs. Panthers, September 12 (d/n)

Dolphins at. Panthers, September 14 (d/n)

Lions vs. Panthers, Sep. 16 (d)

Panthers against. Stallions, September 21 (d/n)