The Pakistan Shaheens cricket team, led by Mohammad Haris, will kick off their campaign in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup 2024 with a highly anticipated clash against India ‘A’ on Saturday at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat, Oman.
The tournament begins today, Friday, with Group A matches featuring Bangladesh ‘A’ against Hong Kong and Afghanistan ‘A’ facing Sri Lanka ‘A’. Pakistan Shaheens, placed in Group B, will next face Oman on October 21, followed by their third group-stage match against the United Arab Emirates on October 23. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals on October 25, with the final scheduled for October 26.
Ahead of the tournament, the Shaheens underwent a five-day training camp at the Hanif Mohammad National High-Performance Centre in Karachi. This is the first time the ACC Emerging Teams tournament is being played in the T20 format, with previous editions held in List-A format. Pakistan has won the title twice, in 2019 under Saud Shakeel and in 2023 under Mohammad Haris.
The squad features capped players like Haider Ali, Rohail Nazir, Qasim Akram, and Shahnawaz Dahani, alongside fresh faces such as Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, and Yasir Khan. Haris highlighted the tournament as a prime opportunity for the team to showcase their talent in a high-pressure environment.
Pakistan Shaheens Squad:
Mohammad Haris (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Rohail Nazir, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Moqim, Yasir Khan, Zaman Khan
The tournament will serve as a test of the Shaheens’ mettle as they aim to retain their title and make a strong statement on the emerging cricket stage.
