Lahore, November 5, 2024: Rising star Mohammad Huraira has been named captain of the Pakistan Shaheens for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka ‘A,’ which includes two four-day matches and three 50-over games. The series will be held at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from November 11 to 29.
Huraira, at 22, has shown exceptional promise in domestic cricket. In 40 first-class matches, the right-handed batter has accumulated 3,310 runs with eight centuries and 14 half-centuries. In List A matches, he has scored 632 runs, including one century and one half-century. His solid performance has earned him the captaincy, and he will lead a young but talented squad against a competitive Sri Lanka ‘A’ side.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the squads for both formats, featuring a mix of seasoned players and fresh talent. Test bowlers Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Khurram Shahzad have returned to the squad after successful rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy, having recently featured in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. These players bring valuable experience to a squad that aims to build depth for Pakistan’s future national teams.
Hussain Talat, another player with international experience, has been selected for the white-ball squad. Meanwhile, young players Muhammad Ghazi Ghori and Ahmed Safi Abdullah have received their first call-ups to the Shaheens, adding strength and potential to the side. Key white-ball players who recently represented Pakistan in the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup, including Abdul Samad, Haider Ali, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Imran Jnr, and Rohail Nazir, have retained their spots in the squad.
The red-ball squad will begin training on November 6 in preparation for the first four-day match, while the Sri Lanka ‘A’ team is expected to arrive in Pakistan on November 8 and will begin their own training sessions on November 9. White-ball players are set to join the squad in Islamabad on November 22, ahead of the limited-overs games.
The PCB has confirmed the match officials for the series, ensuring smooth and fair play throughout. Iqbal Sheikh and Bilal Khilji will serve as the match referees for the red and white-ball formats, respectively, while umpires Asif Yaqoob, Imran Jawed, Rashid Riaz, and Zulfiqar Jan will oversee on-field duties.
Squads for the Pakistan Shaheens Series:
Four-Day Matches Squad:
• Mohammad Huraira (captain) (Sialkot), Abdul Faseeh (Rawalpindi), Ahmed Safi Abdullah (Faisalabad), Ali Zaryab (Lahore), Haider Ali (Rawalpindi), Hussain Talat (Lahore), Kashif Ali (Rawalpindi), Khurram Shahzad (Faisalabad), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (Karachi), Mohammad Rameez Jnr (Lahore), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (FATA), Rohail Nazir (Islamabad), Saad Khan (Hyderabad), Sameen Gul (FATA)
50-Over Matches Squad:
• Mohammad Huraira (captain) (Sialkot), Abdul Faseeh (Rawalpindi), Abdul Samad (Faisalabad), Haider Ali (Rawalpindi), Hussain Talat (Lahore), Maaz Sadaqat (Peshawar), Mehran Mumtaz (Rawalpindi), Mohammad Haris (Peshawar), Mohammad Imran Jnr (Swat), Muhammad Imran (Bahawalpur), Mohammad Wasim Jnr (FATA), Rohail Nazir (Islamabad), Sharoon Siraj (Multan), Sirajuddin (FATA), Ubaid Shah (Lahore)
Match Schedule and Officials:
The matches, all day games, will take place at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, with match officials assigned as follows:
• 1st Four-Day (Nov 11-14): Umpires: Asif Yaqoob, Zulfiqar Jan; Third Umpire: Imran Jawed; Match Referee: Iqbal Sheikh
• 2nd Four-Day (Nov 18-21): Umpires: Rashid Riaz, Imran Jawed; Third Umpire: Zulfiqar Jan; Match Referee: Iqbal Sheikh
• 1st ODI (Nov 25): Umpires: Rashid Riaz, Zulfiqar Jan; Third Umpire: Imran Jawed; Match Referee: Bilal Khilji
• 2nd ODI (Nov 27): Umpires: Rashid Riaz, Imran Jawed; Third Umpire: Zulfiqar Jan; Match Referee: Bilal Khilji
• 3rd ODI (Nov 29): Umpires: Rashid Riaz, Zulfiqar Jan; Third Umpire: Imran Jawed; Match Referee: Bilal Khilji
The Pakistan Shaheens series will provide an excellent platform for emerging players to showcase their talents and contribute to the future success of Pakistan cricket.
