Pakistan Shaheens will lock horns with Oman in the Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup opener on Friday, November 14.
The eight-team competition will be played at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.
Pakistan Shaheens, led by Muhammad Irfan Khan, are placed in Group B alongside Oman, India ‘A’ and UAE. Group A comprises Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka ‘A’.
After their opening match against Oman, Pakistan Shaheens will face India ‘A’ on Sunday, November 16, before playing their final group fixture against UAE on Tuesday, November 18.
According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals, to be played on November 21. The final is scheduled for Sunday, November 23.
Before the team’s departure on November 12, Pakistan Shaheens underwent a four-day training camp at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi. The squad also held their first training session in Doha earlier today to fine-tune preparations ahead of the event.
Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, head coach of Pakistan Shaheens, said:
“Our camp in Karachi went very well, where the players were fully focused, disciplined, and the sessions were well-structured. Before arriving in Doha, we observed the local conditions and noted that the pitches here tend to play a little low, so we defined clear roles for each player and worked on specific game plans accordingly.
“Today was our first training session in Doha, and the practice wickets are quite similar to the main pitch. We are preparing according to our strengths, focusing on consistent bowling lines and lengths and on smart shot selection in batting. The boys have shown great energy and positive intent.
“We face Oman tomorrow, and in T20 cricket, no team can be taken lightly. Our plans are based on detailed analysis, and the players are mentally prepared and confident. We will stick to our strengths and play positive cricket throughout the tournament.”
15-member squad:
Muhammad Irfan Khan (captain), Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Faiq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Shahzad, Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood, Shahid Aziz, Sufiyan Moqim, Ubaid Shah and Yasir Khan
Shaheens fixtures:
v Oman – 14 November, West End Park International Cricket Stadium
v India ‘A’ – 16 November, West End Park International Cricket Stadium
v UAE – 18 November, West End Park International Cricket Stadium
