The usual suspects dominate inaugural Champions Cup

The much-anticipated Champions One-Day Cup culminated in a one-sided final on Sunday, where the Panthers, captained by Shadab Khan, triumphed over the Markhors by five wickets to claim the championship title.

Right-arm pacer Mohammad Hasnain played a pivotal role in the final, taking three wickets to help restrict Iftikhar Ahmed's Markhors to a mere 122 runs. Arafat Minhas further contributed with an outstanding bowling performance, recording figures of 2.4 overs, one run, and three wickets, ensuring the Markhors were bundled out quickly.

The Panthers chased down the target in just 18 overs, showcasing their batting prowess and reversing a trend seen throughout the tournament where most games had been won by the team batting first. This victory marked Shadab Khan’s second title as captain this year, following his earlier success with Islamabad United in PSL 9.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, had emphasized the tournament’s goal of discovering fresh talent for the national team. However, the standout performers were primarily familiar names in domestic cricket.

Top performers

Usman Khan, who had earlier this year earned a spot in Pakistan's T20I team due to his outstanding PSL season, emerged as the leading run-scorer of the Champions Cup with 272 runs across six innings, including a century and two fifties. He was not only recognized as the best batter of the tournament but also named the best wicketkeeper.

Usman Khan was the leading run-scorer of the Champions Cup with 272 runs across six innings.PCB

Consistent performers in domestic cricket, Kamran Ghulam and Tayyab Tahir, finished second and third in the run-scoring charts with 250 and 249 runs, respectively. Ghulam notably hit two centuries in the tournament. Babar Azam also regained his form, scoring 230 runs in four innings as he prepared for the upcoming Test series against England.

On the bowling front, Hasnain's three wickets in the final allowed him to extend his lead in the tournament's wicket-taking charts to 17, far ahead of his competitors, and he was awarded the best bowler of the tournament.

Jahandad Khan continued to impress with both bat and ball, taking 10 wickets and providing crucial late-order performances. Zahid Mehmood, who has already represented Pakistan in all formats, was the tournament's top spinner with 10 wickets in six innings.

New talent

Despite the participation of many top Pakistani players, concerns were raised regarding the identification of new talent. One player who did stand out was Abdul Samad, who dazzled with a score of 62 off 25 balls in the tournament's opening match. While his performance gave weight to the PCB's assertions of uncovering new talent, he was not entirely new to the scene, having previously scored 115 runs in the President's Cup Grade-I, suggesting he was building on his established form. Although he showcased his potential for explosive hitting, his consistency remained a concern.

Another young player, 16-year-old pacer Ali Raza, garnered attention for his performances and received commendation from his captain, Shadab Khan. Shadab noted, “Ali Raza's mentality belies his age. The way he's bowling, I think he could be a useful asset for the Pakistan side in the future. We need to be careful with him because he's still young and his body is still fragile, making him more vulnerable to injuries.”

However, it may be premature to have high expectations for Raza, who played only three games and took four wickets in the competition.

While some young talent did emerge, many of the standout players were already part of the established cricket system. This raises questions about the value of the investment made in the tournament and its mentors.

Although the event revitalized Faisalabad as a cricket venue—last hosting international cricket in 2008—the withdrawal of top players for the Test series during the playoffs reduced crowd interest and engagement.

Financial concerns

Financially, concerns were voiced regarding the sustainability of investing in such a large-scale one-day tournament. The prize money for the tournament was roughly half that of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the five mentors were collectively paid around PKR 25 million per month, resulting in nearly PKR 900 million in costs over three years for the PCB.

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

The overall standard of cricket observed in this tournament did not significantly differ from previous domestic one-day competitions, where the same leading players had consistently dominated. This situation leads to the question of whether a separate tournament with such substantial financial backing was justified, especially considering the results were predictable and followed previous patterns.

Furthermore, organizing a 50-overs event right before a crucial Test series against England raises further doubts about the PCB's strategic planning.

The Champions One-Day Cup provided a stage for familiar faces to shine, it also sparked discussions about the need for the PCB to refocus on developing fresh talent and creating competitive structures that yield new stars for Pakistan cricket.