Pakistan's white-ball coach, Gary Kirsten, is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming Champions One Day Cup, which will take place at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad from September 12 to 29.
Kirsten, who returned to his hometown in South Africa after Pakistan's early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup, will be returning to guide the team. His involvement is seen as pivotal as Pakistan's white-ball team gears up for a series against Australia in November.
In July, Kirsten had visited Lahore to meet with PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, where he shared his feedback on the team's performance and plans for the future.
In addition to Kirsten, several other experienced mentors will also be involved in preparing the teams for the tournament. Sarfaraz Ahmed, Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis have all been appointed as mentors on three-year contracts following a transparent recruitment process.
The Champions One Day Cup will feature a series of matches, all held at Iqbal Stadium. The event schedule is as follows:
12 Sep – Wolves v Panthers
13 Sep – Stallions v Lions
14 Sep – Dolphins v Panthers
15 Sep – Wolves v Stallions
16 Sep – Lions v Panthers
17 Sep – Dolphins v Wolves
19 Sep – Stallions v Dolphins
20 Sep – Lions v Wolves
21 Sep – Panthers v Stallions
22 Sep – Dolphins v Lions
24 Sep – Qualifier (Team No.1 v Team No. 2)
25 Sep – Eliminator 1 (Team No.3 v Team No.4)
27 Sep – Eliminator 2 (Losing Qualifier v Winning Eliminator 2)
29 Sep - Final