LAHORE: The five-team Champions Cup will be back in action with the do­m­estic top-tier’s T20 tou­r­nament set to be held in Rawalpindi from Dec 7-25, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday.

Stallions, Dolphins, Panthers, Lions and Markhors will compete for the title after first playing against each other in a double league stage, of which the toppers will directly make it to the Dec 25 final.

The second and third-placed sides will vie for a place in the decider in the Qualifier on Dec 23. The tournament will feature 22 matches over 19 days, incl­uding six double-headers and eight single-headers.

The Champions T20 Cup will kick off with Stallions taking on Lake City Pan­thers, followed by Lions’ clash against Markhors. The First-round matches will take place from Dec 7-13, while the second round will run from Dec 15.

“To ensure optimal preparation, the PCB will support the five team mentors in assembling their squads in Rawalpindi from 28 November,” said a PCB press release. “Practice sessions will be held at the Diamond Cricket Ground, KRL Stadium, and National Ground, with warm-up matches also scheduled during this period.”

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024