The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has entrusted the leadership of the Pakistan Shaheens in the forthcoming ACC Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman to seasoned Mohammad Haris.
According to a statement issued by the PCB, Haris, who has represented Pakistan in nine T20Is and six ODIs, will guide the Shaheens throughout the tournament, which is scheduled to begin at the Oman Cricket Academy ground in Al Amerat on October 18.
The team is anticipated to arrive in Muscat on October 16. In preparation for the tournament, the squad will undergo a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi from October 11 to 15.
The squad includes players such as Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Yasir Khan, and Zaman Khan, who will be making their debut for the Pakistan Shaheens.
A total of eight teams will compete in the tournament, with four teams divided into two groups. Group A will consist of Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka ‘A’, while the defending champions, Pakistan Shaheens, will be placed in Group B alongside India ‘A’, Oman, and the UAE.
The Haris-led Shaheens will face off against the reigning champions, India ‘A’, in their opening match on October 19. Following this, they will play against Oman on October 21 and their final group match will be against the UAE on October 23.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, which are scheduled for October 25. The final match of the tournament is set to take place on Sunday, October 27.
Usman Wahla, the PCB Director (International), expressed his excitement for the Shaheens to represent the PCB's emerging talent at the ACC Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup. He also commended the Asian Cricket Council for their relentless efforts in nurturing player development across member nations, highlighting the importance of initiatives like the Emerging Teams T20 Asia Cup in providing opportunities for young talents to flourish and excel.
The squad for the Pakistan Shaheens includes Mohammad Haris as the captain, alongside players such as Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohmmad Imran Jnr, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Moqim, Yasir Khan, and Zaman Khan.
The team's management includes Umar Rasheed (head coach-cum-manager), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Riffatullah Mohmand (fielding coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst), and Syed Mohammad Asad (physiotherapist).
