Pakistan Shaheens, led by Qasim Akram, will embark on their journey tonight to Hangzhou, China, to participate in the 19th Asian Games.
In the T20 format, 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.
The quarter-final matches are slated for October 3rd and 4th, with Pakistan scheduled to play their quarter-final clash on October 3rd at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou. 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).
Captain Qasim Akram, while talking to PCB Digital, said: “It is an honour for me to lead the side in the Asian Games. The players have performed well in the past, winning the ACC Emerging Asia Cup recently and I am looking forward to the same performance from the players in the upcoming games.
“We have a good combination and have undergone rigorous training, preparing for whatever challenges spinning wickets may present. So, we are ready for the challenge.
“This will be our first tour to China, so we will keep things very simple and aim to win matches for the country.
“I will urge the fans to keep supporting the Shaheens side in the Asian Games.”
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)
