Pakistan Shaheens to Face India A in Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup

The Pakistan Shaheens team for the Asian Cricket Council Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where the national side is due to lock horns with arch-rival India, will be led by right-handed batter Mohammad Haris. Shaheens will undergo a camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in Karachi from 11 to 15 October before their departure for the tournament starting in Oman from 18 October.

The team under the captaincy of Haris will begin their season-opening campaign against last year’s runners-up India A on October 19. The side, that was set to leave for Oman on October 16, also included Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Yasir Khan and Zaman Khan who would represent Pakistan Shaheens for the time, said a Pakistan Cricket Board in a statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, Samad featured for UMT Markhors in the recently concluded Champions One-Day Cup 2024-25 and scored at strike rate of 122.88, whereas Daniyal playing for Nurpur Lions bagged 10 wickets and Yasir and Zaman featured for Allied Bank Stallions in four and two matches, respectively.

A total of eight teams will take part in the tournament with the four teams being divided into two groups. The event will be staged at the Oman Cricket Academy Ground in Muscat. Group A comprises Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A’, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka A while the defending champions Pakistan Shaheens have slotted with India A, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, UAE in Group B.

The Shaheens will compete against hosts Oman on October 21, while they face the UAE in their last group match on October 23. The best two teams in each group qualify into the semi-finals that are pegged for 25 October. The final will be staged on Sunday, October 27.

Shaheens squad

Mohammad Haris (captain), 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

Team management

Umar Rasheed (head coach-cum-manager), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Riffatullah Mohmand (fielding coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst) and Syed Mohammad Asad (physiotherapist)