Pakistan Cricket Team | PCB unveils five Champions Cup team mentors

August 26, 2024, Islamabad:

Following an open and thorough hiring process, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis were today confirmed as the five Champions Cup sides' mentors on three-year contracts. In due course, the names of their squads and sides will be confirmed.

The PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024–25 mentors' first task will be to oversee the Champions One-Day Cup, which takes place at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12–29. The single-league competition, which will also mark the return of men's seniors competitive cricket to Faisalabad after almost two years away, will include the greatest players in the nation. Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa played their final domestic men's 50-over match at the Iqbal Stadium in March 2022.

Together, the five mentors of the Champions Cup side have participated in 1,621 international matches, amassing a total of 32,780 runs and claiming 1,503 wickets. Among the five, Misbah is a one-time ICC Event winner and captain of the ACC Asia Cup 2012; Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik are two-time ICC Event winners; and Saqlain and Waqar were on the team that competed in the 1999 World Cup final.

Chair of PCB Mohsin Naqvi

"I'm happy to announce that the Champions Cup teams will have five outstanding champions serving as mentors. Together with their enthusiasm for the game we all love, these people provide a wealth of cricketing experience, knowledge, and expertise that will aid the Pakistan Cricket Board in identifying, fostering, and developing the next generation of players in all formats. This program will assist close the gap between domestic and international cricket, in addition to benefiting the Pakistan men's cricket team.

These five mentors will be crucial to the growth and advancement of our future cricket players. They will assist leadership and personal development activities, as well as team-building and strategic planning.

The PCB is dedicated to bolstering Pakistani cricket by providing a strong local framework that gives every cricket player a clear, competitive path. The players with the greatest talent and skill will rise through the ranks to play at the top levels for Pakistan.

ABOUT THE MENTORS

Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan's most successful Test captain, having won 26 of the 56 matches in which he captained his team. In August 2016, he helped Pakistan rise to the top of the ICC Test Team Rankings.
2014: In an Abu Dhabi match against Australia, struck a 56-ball century to tie the world record for the fastest Test century at the time.
featured in three T20 World Cups, three ICC Champions Trophy competitions, and two 50-over World Cups.
was a part of the team that competed in the 2007 ICC T20 World Cup final and won the competition at Lord's two years later.
Among the 2017 Wisden Cricketers of the Year

Saqlain Mushtaq

Is the fastest the most ODI wickets in a calendar year and is the fastest to reach 250 ODI wickets.
is ranked second for the most consecutive five-wicket innings in One-Day Internationals.
achieved two hat-tricks in ODIs, one of which came during a World Cup.
Is the one who created "Doosra"
participated in two Champions Trophy competitions and three World Cups.

Sarfaraz Ahmed

led Pakistan to the top spot in the ICC T20I Team Rankings. Captained Pakistan to triumphs in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2017. Played a part in the Pakistan team that won the ACC Asia Cup 2012.
Currently holds the record for the most ODI dismissals (all six catches).
17th on the ODI record of wicket-keepers with 2,000 runs and 100 dismissals; only the second wicket-keeper to have captained his side in 50 or more ODIs.
participated in one T20 World Cup and two 50-over World Cups.

Shoaib Malik

played in the 50-over World Cup in 2007 and 2019; participated in six T20 World Cups, leading the team in the 2007 competition; and six Champions Trophy competitions.
possesses 1,000 runs, 50 wickets, and 50 catches, placing him 33rd among all ODI players.
Having worked abroad for more than 19 years and 245 days, holds the distinction for one of the longest careers ever.
124 T20Is, 287 ODIs, and 35 Tests in which he has made appearances and collected 218 wickets while scoring 11,867 runs
He is regarded as one of franchise cricket's busiest and most sought-after players.

Waqar Younis

three World Cups with a 50-over format
had the fastest time reaching 400 wickets in an ODI.
tops the list of captains with the highest bowling average in ODIs.
is one of the bowlers in a Test match who has struck out all 11 hitters.
coached Pakistan in the World Cup of 2015, the T20 World Cups of 2010 and 2016, and the bowling coach for Pakistan from 2019 to 2021.