The Pakistan Shaheens, under the captaincy of Qasim Akram, are set to embark on their journey to the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. Departing later tonight, the team will participate in the T20 format of the tournament, starting from the quarter-final stage. Pakistan Shaheens secured their spot in the quarter-finals due to their status as one of the top four ICC ranked teams in the continent.
The quarter-final matches are slated for October 3 and 4, with Pakistan scheduled to play their quarter-final on October 3 at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou. Subsequent rounds will see the semi-finals taking place on October 6, while the final and the bronze medal match are scheduled for Saturday, October 7.
Prior to their departure, the Pakistan Shaheens undertook a rigorous five-day training camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. During the camp, the players, under the guidance of coaches, engaged in training sessions and match scenarios to prepare for the upcoming tournament.
The squad comprises 15 players, with seven of them having already represented Pakistan in international cricket. This includes 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 expressed his honor at leading the side in the Asian Games and the team’s readiness for the competition. “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,” said Akram. He emphasized their preparation for the challenge presented by spinning wickets and urged fans to support the Shaheens side during the Asian Games.
The Pakistan Shaheens squad for the Asian Games includes:
- 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
- Usman Qadir
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