Champions Cup begins with fanfare in Faisalabad but concerns linger

The Champions One-day Cup, which kicked off in Faisalabad last Thursday, has been hailed as a key initiative by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who hopes it will uncover fresh talent for the national team.

However, with all of Pakistan’s top players participating alongside the usual pool of domestic cricketers, questions arise about how much new talent will emerge, as many standout players like Jahandad Khan (6 wickets in 2 matches) and Mehran Mumtaz (4 wickets in two games) had already impressed during recent Pakistan Shaheens' matches against Bangladesh.

One player who did attract attention was Abdul Samad, who smashed 62 off 25 balls, including six sixes in the tournament’s first match, giving weight to PCB’s claims of unearthing new talent. However, Samad was not entirely unknown, having scored 115 off 92 balls earlier this year in the President's Cup Grade-I for Sui Northern, suggesting that he was continuing his fine form rather than being a fresh discovery.

Abdul Samad during his 62-run knock in the opening game of the Champions One-day Cup against Panthers.PCB

The excitement surrounding the tournament has drawn large crowds, breathing new life into Faisalabad's Iqbal Stadium, which last hosted international cricket way back in 2008. In recent years, most cricket action in Pakistan has been confined to cities like Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Multan, but the refurbishment of key venues for the upcoming Champions Trophy has brought Faisalabad back into the spotlight.

The arrival of top cricketers in Faisalabad has generated so much enthusiasm that even practice sessions attracted big crowds. A viral moment during the tournament saw Babar Azam acknowledge fans from the stadium’s balcony, drawing comparisons to MS Dhoni’s interactions with Chennai Super Kings supporters during the IPL.

Fan holding a sketch of Babar Azam during the Champions One-day Cup match between Stallions and Lions.PCB

This fanfare comes as a relief for PCB, which may have worried about dwindling fan engagement after Pakistan’s poor performances in recent matches, the low turnout during the Bangladesh Test series, and rising interest in other sports following Arshad Nadeem’s gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

Lack of planning

Despite the excitement and crowds, concerns about the tournament's organization, timing, financial sustainability, and overall value linger.

The competition is sandwiched between Pakistan’s Test series against Bangladesh and an upcoming Test series with England starting on October 7.

Pakistan’s Test captain Shan Masood had earlier expressed frustration over the long gap between Test matches, highlighting the lack of match practice for the players. Given this, hosting a one-day tournament right before a critical Test series seems poorly timed.

Australia, for example, is allowing its fast bowlers to play Sheffield Shield matches to prepare for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India. Ideally, PCB could have scheduled the four-day version of the Champions Cup first to help Pakistan’s players gear up for a tough Test season, which includes tours to South Africa and a home series against the West Indies.

Poor planning by PCB is also evident in last-minute decisions. For example, the team originally called Wolves was renamed Markhors just before the tournament began, and sponsorship deals were only secured on the eve of the event.

Team captains and mentors gathered for a photo shoot ahead of the Champions One-day Cup.PCB

Furthermore, the PCB adjusted the schedule for the current Champions One-Day Cup at Iqbal Stadium on Saturday. The game between the Dolphins and Markhors, initially planned for September 17, has been moved to September 18 to accommodate the Rabi-ul-Awal public holiday. Despite being aware of the public holiday 12 days in advance, the PCB only opted to reschedule the match on September 14.

Fitness concerns

Fitness of players is another concern, especially given the intense heat in Faisalabad. In the first four matches, the team batting first has consistently won, and Lions captain Shaheen Afridi explained that the hot weather affected batters' footwork and balance in second innings.

“The weather is very warm. It obviously affects the footwork of batters as well your balance. If you want to compete at international level, you will need to keep yourself fit because you will be required to bat second at any sort of condition in international cricket. You need to keep yourself active,” Shaheen said after the match between Lions and Stallions on Friday.

With an already packed schedule, including one of Pakistan’s longest domestic and international seasons, playing in such conditions risk player injuries, especially for pacers. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah were rested after the Bangladesh Test series to manage their workload, but now face challenging conditions in this tournament, raising questions about how well PCB is managing its fast bowlers.

Financial viability

Concerns have also been raised about the financial feasibility of investing in a large-scale One-Day tournament. The prize money pool is roughly half that of the PSL, and the five mentors are paid around PKR 25 million per month collectively, with their three-year contracts costing the board nearly PKR 900 million.

Bahawalpur Royals won the inaugural edition of the PJL.PCB

It’s not uncommon for new PCB administrations to launch ambitious projects, only for them to be abandoned when a new leadership takes over. A notable example is the Pakistan Junior League (PJL), which was scrapped after Najam Sethi's administration replaced Ramiz Raja as PCB chairman. The PJL was Ramiz’s initiative, but the tournament faced substantial losses in its first year. According to a board financial report, the two-week event incurred expenses of around PKR 997 million, while the PCB earned only PKR 190 million from it.

This history of losses creates skepticism whenever the PCB announces new tournaments, as there are doubts about their financial sustainability and long-term value.

While the first few matches have been one-sided, they have allowed top Pakistani players to regain form. Babar Azam, who struggled in the recent Bangladesh series, got some runs in the middle with scores of 76 and 45 in his first two games for Stallions. Naseem Shah has also impressed, taking five wickets in two matches.

Meanwhile, the debate over Pakistan's Test captaincy persists. A key meeting, referred to as the “connection camp,” is scheduled for September 23 during the rest day of the One-Day Cup.

Shan Masood’s leadership is in question after Pakistan’s whitewash in Bangladesh, with local media reports suggesting Rizwan as a possible replacement. Rizwan’s captaincy credentials are further bolstered by leading his team, Markhors, to the top of the table with two dominant victories in their first two games.

As the One-Day Cup progresses, it remains to be seen what changes might come next in the unpredictable landscape of Pakistan cricket.