Rohail Nazir to Captain Pakistan Shaheens in Darwin

The Pakistan Shaheens cricket team gears up for the thrilling Top End T20 Series, scheduled from July 30 to August 6, with Rohail Nazir taking the reins as the captain.

The prestigious tournament, organized by Northern Territory Cricket (NTC), will feature six formidable teams, including Pakistan Shaheens, NT Strike, ACT Comets, Melbourne Stars, Melbourne Renegades, and Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The action-packed format will be T20, with the top two teams advancing to the final, as announced in a press release by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on July 20.

In addition to the exhilarating T20 clashes, the Pakistan Shaheens are also scheduled to engage in two 50-over matches against PNG and NT Strike on August 8 and 9, respectively.

This initiative by the PCB aims to offer budding cricketers valuable opportunities to play under diverse conditions and against varied oppositions across all formats.

Rohail Nazir, an accomplished wicketkeeper-batter, brings his experience from 33 first-class matches and prior captaincy of the Pakistan Shaheens to lead the team once again.

The squad has actively participated in different tours and competitions, including recent ones in Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka for the ACC Men’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup.

Next on their agenda is the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, from September 19 to October 8. The Pakistan Shaheens boast a talented roster, comprising players who have either made their first-class debuts or have competed in various domestic and league events in Pakistan.

The team’s strength is further amplified by the presence of seven promising teenagers, who were part of the Pakistan U19 squad that toured Bangladesh in May 2023.

The Darwin series and the forthcoming tournaments provide an excellent platform for these young players to showcase their skills on the international stage. It’s an incredible opportunity for them to gain valuable experience and acclimatize to different playing conditions.

The Pakistan Shaheens squad is as follows:

Rohail Nazir (Captain)

Aaliyan Mahmood

Ali Asfand

Amir Hassan

Arafat Minhas

Azan Awais

Basit Ali

Faisal Akram

Mohammad Imran

Sajjad Ali

Mohammad Irfan Khan