LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed five cricketing legends as mentors for the Champions Cup team.
The newly appointed mentors, each signed to a three-year contract, are Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis. The selection process for these roles was noted for its transparency and rigor.
The mentors will first be involved in the PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, starting with the Champions One-Day Cup, which will be held at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29.
This tournament will feature the best domestic players and marks the return of top-level men’s cricket to Faisalabad after nearly two years. The last 50-over domestic match at Iqbal Stadium was held in March 2022 between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Together, the five mentors boast a combined total of 1,621 international matches, with 32,780 runs scored and 1,503 wickets taken. Their notable achievements include multiple ICC event victories and crucial roles in historic matches.
Misbah-ul-Haq: Pakistan’s most successful Test captain, leading the team to 26 victories in 56 Tests and achieving the No. 1 ICC Test Team ranking in August 2016. He was a part of the team that reached the final of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007 and won the tournament in 2009. Misbah also has three World Cups and three ICC Champions Trophy events under his belt.
Saqlain Mushtaq: Known for being the fastest to 250 ODI wickets and holding the record for most ODI wickets in a calendar year. He is also credited with inventing the ‘Doosra’ delivery and has taken two ODI hat-tricks, including one in a World Cup. Saqlain played in three World Cups and two Champions Trophy events.
Sarfaraz Ahmed: Led Pakistan to victory in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017. He also captained Pakistan to No. 1 in the ICC T20I Team Rankings and holds the record for most dismissals in an ODI (all 6 catches). Sarfaraz has played in two 50-over World Cups and one T20 World Cup.
Shoaib Malik: With an international career spanning over 19 years, Malik has featured in two 50-over World Cups (2007, 2019), six T20 World Cups, and six Champions Trophy tournaments. He has scored 11,867 runs and taken 218 wickets across 35 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 124 T20Is.
Waqar Younis: Holds the record for the fastest to 400 ODI wickets and has played in three 50-over World Cups. Waqar also leads the list of captains with the best ODI bowling figures and is one of the few bowlers to dismiss all 11 batters in a Test match. He has previously coached Pakistan in multiple World Cups and served as the team’s bowling coach from 2019 to 2021.
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s Statement:
“I am thrilled to welcome these five exceptional champions as mentors for our Champions Cup teams. Their vast cricketing experience and passion will be invaluable in developing and nurturing the next generation of cricketers. This initiative will enhance the Pakistan men’s cricket team and bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket.”
“The PCB remains committed to strengthening Pakistan’s cricket through a robust domestic structure, ensuring a competitive pathway for all cricketers. Our goal is to identify and develop the most talented players to represent Pakistan at the highest level.”
