Will Muhammad Irfan Lead Pakistan Shaheens to Victory in the Rising Stars Asia Cup?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Pakistan Shaheens are competing in the Rising Stars Asia Cup.
- Group B includes Oman, India ‘A’, and UAE.
- Muhammad Irfan is the captain.
- Emerging talents make up the majority of the squad.
- The tournament runs from November 14 to 23.
Lahore, Nov 7 (NationPress) Muhammad Irfan Khan is set to captain the Pakistan Shaheens in the prestigious eight-team Asian Cricket Council’s Rising Stars Asia Cup, scheduled to be held in Qatar from November 14 to 23.
The Pakistan Shaheens find themselves in Group ‘B’, competing against Oman, India ‘A’, and UAE, while Group ‘A’ consists of Afghanistan ‘A’, Bangladesh ‘A’, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka ‘A’.
The tournament will kick off for Pakistan with their first match against Oman on November 14, followed by a clash against India ‘A’ on November 16. Their last group game is against the UAE on November 18.
This time, the selectors have opted for a mostly new squad, retaining just three players with previous senior national team experience: Irfan, spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, and pacer Ahmed Daniyal.
The rest of the team comprises rising stars who have made their mark in the Under-19 circuit, the Shaheens programme, domestic competitions, and the Pakistan Super League.
According to the tournament structure, the top two teams from each group will move on to the semi-finals on November 21, leading to the final match on November 23.
All matches will be held at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.
Prior to their departure on November 12, the Pakistan Shaheens will conduct a training camp from November 8 to 11 at the Hanif Muhammad High Performance Centre in Karachi.
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.