PCB offers free entry to fans for Champions ODI Cup matches, excluding final four

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has announced that cricket fans will be able to watch all matches of the upcoming Champions ODI Cup 2024 for free, except for the final four matches. 

This announcement follows a key meeting chaired by PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, which focused on the detailed arrangements for hosting the prestigious tournament at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. 

"The residents of Faisalabad love the game of cricket. After a long time, Pakistan's top players will be in action in a major tournament in Faisalabad. Not only will talent emerge from the Champions Cup, but domestic cricket will also strengthen. For the success of the Champions Cup, the entire team must work responsibly," Naqvi stated.

Additionally, the fitness test phase for the Champions Cup players has been successfully completed.

The meeting was attended by Chief Operating Officer PCB Salman Naseer, Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza, Advisor Bilal Afzal, Director Domestic Abdullah Khurram Niazi, Director Commercial, Director High Performance, Senior General Manager Domestic Junaid Zia, and other relevant officials.

Earlier this month, the PCB introduced the 'Champions Events,' a series of three new domestic competitions aimed at "bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket" in Pakistan. The Champions Cup is set to be a marquee event within these new tournaments.

In addition to this, the PCB has announced the appointment of five distinguished mentors for the competition: Misbah-ul-Haq, Saqlain Mushtaq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, and Waqar Younis. These mentors, contracted for three years following a rigorous recruitment process, will guide the teams during the upcoming domestic season.

The Champions One-Day Cup, a highlight of the PCB Domestic Cricket Season 2024-25, is scheduled to take place at Iqbal Stadium from September 12 to 29, 2024. The tournament will feature five teams—Dolphins, Lions, Panthers, Stallions, and Wolves—with Misbah-ul-Haq mentoring the Wolves and Shoaib Malik mentoring the Stallions.