By Caroline Chepkorir

Pakistan Cricket Association Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced five mentors for five national teams in the One Day Cup next month. Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been confirmed as a mentor for one of the teams in the upcoming Champions Cup. Legendary cricketers such as Saqlain Mushtaq, Misbag Ul Ha, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Malik will also be mentors for teams in the tournament.

The tournament cricketers will be signed on a three-year contract following a transparent process, while the names of the five teams and their players are yet to be confirmed and will be announced in due course.

The mentors’ first assignment in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s 2024-25 domestic cricket season will be the Champions One Day Cup. The upcoming event will be held at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad in September.

The five Champions Cup mentors have played a total of 1,621 international matches, scoring a total of 32,780 runs and taking 1,503 wickets. Sarfaraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik are two-time ICC tournament winners; Misbah won the ICC tournament and the 2012 ACC Asia Cup and was captain. Saqlain and Waqar were part of the team that played in the 1999 World Cup final.

“I am delighted to welcome five exceptional champions as mentors for the Champions Cup teams. These individuals bring a wealth of cricket experience, knowledge and expertise which, coupled with their passion for the game we all love, will help the Pakistan Cricket Board identify, develop and nurture the next generation of cricketers across all formats. This initiative will not only benefit the Pakistan national cricket team but will also help bridge the gap between domestic and international cricket. These five mentors will play a critical role in the development and progression of our aspiring cricketers. They will guide the strategic planning and team building processes while providing leadership and personal development support. The PCB is committed to strengthening Pakistan’s cricket through a robust national structure that provides a clear and competitive pathway for all cricketers. The most talented and experienced players will rise through the ranks to represent Pakistan at the highest level,” PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said in media reports.