The much-anticipated Champions T20 Cup kicked off on Saturday at Rawalpindi Stadium, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan cricket. Scheduled from December 7 to December 25, the tournament aims to crown a champion among five competitive teams while also preparing players for high-stakes global tournaments like the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
With 22 matches across 19 days, the tournament features a mix of single and double-header games, starting at 11:00 am and 3:30 pm for double-headers, and 12:00 pm for single matches. The action-packed series, broadcast live on ASports HD, Geo Super, and PTV Sports, will also be available for streaming on Myco and Tamasha, ensuring fans nationwide can tune in.
The event began with a thrilling double-header. The first match saw Imam-ul-Haq’s Nurpur Lions clash with Iftikhar Ahmed’s UMT Markhors at 11:00 am, followed by a showdown between Mohammad Haris’ Allied Bank Stallions and Shadab Khan’s Lake City Panthers at 3:30 pm.
The five participating teams—ABL Stallions, Engro Dolphins, Lake City Panthers, Nurpur Lions, and UMT Markhors—are competing in a double-league format, where each team plays the others twice. The top team from the league stage will directly advance to the final on December 25, while the second and third teams will face off in a qualifier for the remaining final spot.
Adding to the excitement, each team is paired with a prominent media house—ARY News, Geo News, Hum News, Samaa News, and Dunya News—to enhance fan engagement and tournament reach.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has designed the Champions T20 Cup as a stepping stone for players transitioning from domestic to international cricket. Following the success of the Champions One-Day Cup in Faisalabad earlier this year, this T20 competition aims to expose players to high-pressure scenarios, sharpening their skills for the global stage.
“The PCB is working hard to provide young players with valuable exposure,” said tournament director Wahab Riaz. “Sharing dressing rooms with experienced players and learning from seasoned mentors will prepare them to handle international cricket’s demands.”
The tournament boasts mentorship from cricket legends like Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, and Waqar Younis, whose guidance is expected to inspire a fearless, impactful playing style. The event also features top stars like Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Azam Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Haider Ali, alongside promising bowlers such as Zaman Khan, Musa Khan, and Ubaid Shah, ensuring high-octane action for fans.
Champions T20 Cup Squads:
ABL Stallions: Mohammad Haris (captain, wicket-keeper), Azam Khan (subject to fitness), Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Mohsin, Shamyl Hussain, Shoaib Malik, Tahir Hussain, Taimur Khan, Ubaid Shah, Usman Tariq (subject to fitness), Yasir Khan and Zaman Khan
Reserves: Ahmed Safi Abdullah, Jahandad Khan (to join after 14 Dec), Nasir Nawaz and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr
Engro Dolphins: Faheem Ashraf (captain), Asif Ali, Kashif Ali, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Mohammad Suleman, Muhammad Akhlaq, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Qasim Akram, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Irshad, Sameen Gul, Saqib Khan, Shayan Sheikh and Umar Amin
Reserves: Ihsanullah, Salman Khan Afridi, Waqar Ahmed
Lake City Panthers: Shadab Khan (captain), Abdul Wahid Bangalzai, Ahmed Bashir, Amad Butt, Danish Aziz, Haider Ali, Irfanullah Shah, Mohammad Ibtisam, Mohammad Umar (subject to fitness), Mubasir Khan, Rehan Afridi, Rizwan Mehmood, Sajid Khan, Sharjeel Khan (subject to fitness), Umar Siddiq (wicket-keeper) and Usama Mir
Reserves: Ali Asfand, Aqib Liaqat, Azan Awais, Mohammad Zeeshan and Yousuf Babar (stand-by for Sharjeel Khan)
Nurpur Lions: Imam-ul-Haq (captain), Aamer Yamin, Arif Yaqoob, Faisal Akram, Hasan Nawaz, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Salman, Mohammad Taha, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Musa Khan, Rohail Nazir (wicket-keeper), Shahab Khan, Shahid Aziz, Sharoon Siraj and Zeeshan Malik
Reserves: Afaq Afridi, Mohammad Awais Anwar, Mohammad Faiq and Sajjad Ali Hashmi
UMT Markhors: Iftikhar Ahmed (captain), Abdul Samad, Akif Javed, Bilawal Bhatti, Bismillah Khan (wicket-keeper), Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Faizan, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sarwar Afridi, Muhammad Imran Randhawa, Muhammad Shehzad, Nisar Ahmed, Saad Masood and Zahid Mehmood
Reserves: Ali Usman, Ali Shafique, Ali Shan and Niaz Khan