PCB Defends Timing of Champions One Day Cup Amid International Series
Lahore: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Director High-Performance and Tournament Director Champions One Day Cup, Nadeem Khan, has defended the timing of the Champions One Day Cup, saying it is not designed to accommodate international series.
Domestic Competitions Have Set Schedules
Khan explained that all cricket boards have set domestic structures and tournaments take place according to scheduled windows, rather than altering them for international assignments. He added that the Champions Cup was already planned since April.
Players Can Adjust to Different Formats
The former off-spinner believes that modern players are highly motivated professionals who can easily adjust to different formats, making the timing of the One Day Cup between two test series not a huge concern.
Champions Cup Aims to Discover Domestic Talent
Khan stated that the Champions One Day Cup aims to discover the best domestic talent to bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket. The tournament will help unearth future white-ball prospects for Pakistan’s teams and prepare for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
National Players’ Presence Will Enhance Quality
Khan expressed hope that the presence of national players will add quality to the tournament and help determine emerging players who can perform under pressure.
Champions Cup Provides Large Pool of Players
The Tournament Director added that the all-format Champions Cup will provide a large pool of players to replace national cricketers in case of injuries or unavailability.
Inaugural Champions One-Day Cup Details
The inaugural Champions One-Day Cup will take place at the Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad from 12-29 September. Team mentors include Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis.
High-Profile Mentors to Prepare Players
Khan emphasized that the high-profile mentors understand international cricket requirements and will prepare players accordingly. The teams have been allocated regional academies for year-round training and skills development.
Pakistan White-Ball Head Coach to Witness Tournament
Pakistan white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten will arrive on 12 September to witness the entire Champions One-Day Cup, aiming to identify young talent for upcoming white-ball assignments.
