Shaheen Afridi excited for new challenge as Lions captain in Champions One-Day Cup

Shaheen reminisced about his debut in the domestic One-Day Cup in 2018, where he made a significant impact as a teenage prodigy

PHOTO: PCB

Pakistan's left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has led Lahore Qalandars to two HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) titles, is set to lead the Lions in the upcoming Champions One-Day Cup at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad.

Shaheen is gearing up for this new role and is eager to guide his team through the tournament under the mentorship of former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.

Reflecting on the challenge ahead, the pacer has expressed his excitement and commitment to the Lions.

“Leading the Lions will be a thrilling experience for me, especially given the high stakes of the Champions One-Day Cup and the presence of several young and exciting players on our roster. I look forward to giving my best to the team — with the ball, the bat, and through my leadership throughout the tournament,” Shaheen said.

The 24-year-old reminisced about his debut in the domestic One-Day Cup in 2018, where he made a significant impact as a teenage prodigy.

“I have great memories of playing the One-Day Cup in Faisalabad as an 18-year-old in 2018. Returning here as captain with a wealth of international experience feels surreal. I’m committed to helping create memorable experiences for all the young players on our team,” he said.

With the competition set to be intense, Shaheen emphasized the importance of thorough preparation.

“Our opening game is against a strong Stallions squad, which shows the level of competition we will face game after game. That’s why I firmly believe our preparations must be spot-on so we can hit the ground running,” he concluded.

Lions provisional squad (to be trimmed to 15 on 10 September):

Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain, Peshawar), Abdullah Shafique (Sialkot), Aamir Jamal (Islamabad), Aamer Yamin (Multan), Faisal Akram (Multan), Hassan Nawaz (Islamabad), Hunain Shah (Lahore), Imam-ul-Haq (Lahore), Imran Butt (Lahore), Khushdil Shah (Bannu), Mohammad Asghar (Karachi), Muhammad Irfan Khan (Mianwali), Mohammad Taha (Karachi), Omair Bin Yousuf (Karachi), Rohail Nazir (Islamabad), Shahab Khan (Mardan), Sharoon Siraj (Sahiwal), Sirajuddin (Bajaur) and Waqar Hussain (Okara)

Mentor – Waqar Younis

Lions’ Match Schedule: