The Pakistan Shaheens squad has left for China to take part in the Asian Games 2023 men's cricket competition.
Pakistan Shaheens will kick off their campaign from the quarter-final stage, having secured direct qualification as one of the top four ICC-ranked teams in Asia.
Qasim Akram-led side will play their quarter-final on October 3 against an undecided opponent at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou. All games in the tournament carry T20I status.
The semi-finals will follow on October 6th, while the ultimate showdown and the bronze medal match are set for Saturday, October 7th.
In preparation for the tournament, Pakistan Shaheens underwent an intensive five-day training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. During this camp, players honed their skills through rigorous training sessions and simulated match scenarios.
The squad comprises 15 talented players, seven of whom have previously represented Pakistan in international cricket. These seasoned players include Aamir Jamal (2 T20Is), Arshad Iqbal (1 T20I), Asif Ali (21 ODIs, 55 T20Is), Haider Ali (2 ODIs, 33 T20Is), Khushdil Shah (10 ODIs, 24 T20Is), Shahnawaz Dahani (2 ODIs, 11 T20Is), and Usman Qadir (1 ODI, 23 T20Is).
Pakistan Shaheens squad:
Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir (wk), Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir
Player Support Personnel – Shahid Aslam (head coach-cum-manager), Umar Rasheed (bowling coach), Hanif Malik (batting and fielding coach) and Hafiz Naeem ul Rasool (physiotherapist)
