MULTAN: Pakistan’s top white-ball players will vie for a spot in the national squad for next year’s 50-over World Cup when the Nati­onal Champions Cup gets under way in Multan on Tuesday.

Featuring four sides drawn largely from the country’s wider white-ball pool, the tournament has been designed to identify options for the World Cup, which will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia next year.

The seven-match competition, with the final scheduled for Aug 18, will see Pakistan Greens, Gold, Whites and Blues play at the Multan Cricket Stadium, with each side comprising 11 players and three reserves.

The opening match on Tuesday pits Pakistan Greens, led by Shadab Khan, against Pakistan Whites, captained by Saim Ayub. Pakistan Blues, under Sahibzada Farhan, and Pakistan Gold, led by ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, will begin their campaigns on Wednesday.

With Pakistan’s selectors and white-ball head coach Mike Hesson closely monitoring the tournament, performances in Multan could have a significant bearing on the pecking order ahead of the World Cup.

Hesson met the coaching staff of all four teams on Sunday and briefed them on Pakistan’s preparation plan for the global event. Former Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq is coaching Shaheen’s Gold, while Ijaz Ahmed Jr, Iqbal Imam and Aizaz Cheema are in charge of Greens, Whites and Blues respectively.

The tournament comes after a two-month white-ball camp at the National Cricket Academy, where players worked on their fitness and skills. The Champions Cup is therefore expected to provide the first extended competitive opportunity for several players after the camp.

Shaheen said the primary objective was to ensure that Pakistan had adequate replacements ready for every position before the World Cup.

“Injuries are something we face whenever we go to a World Cup,” he said at a pre-tournament press conference on Monday. “The purpose of this tournament is to make sure that if, God forbid, an injury occurs, we already have a player available for that particular position.”

He added that players had been assigned specific roles in the four teams so their ability to perform in different match situations could be assessed.

The tournament also provides an opportunity for players on the fringes of the national side to make a stronger case. Among those looking to impress are Fak­har Zaman, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Kamran Ghulam, Moham­mad Nawaz, Haider Ali and several emerging players.

For Saim, who has established himself as a key white-ball player but has had limited exposure to 50-over cricket compared to T20s, the tournament is particularly significant.

He acknowledged that moving between formats can be challenging when a player spends a prolonged period playing T20 cricket, but said he had been working on the areas requiring improvement.

“I have played T20 cricket continuously for about a year, while I have played very little ODI cricket,” Saim said. “When you move to another format, there are naturally some difficulties, but I have been working on the areas where I feel I need to improve.”

The Champions Cup will also test the players in demanding Multan conditions. The teams arrived in the city on Aug 8 and have held day-and-night training sessions, with the players having to adjust to high temperatures and humidity.

Shaheen said adapting to difficult weather was part of a professional cricketer’s job, particularly with Pakistan frequently touring hot and humid destinations.

“Whatever is not in our control, we have to adapt to it as quickly as possible,” he said.

The four captains insi­sted that winning remained the immediate priority despite the tournament’s selection implications. Shaheen said players must first learn how to win matches, with other tactical considerations following from that objective.

The competition will also give the Pakistan team management a chance to assess the leadership group. Shaheen, who currently remains Pakistan’s ODI captain, was asked whether he had received assurances that he would lead the side at the 2027 World Cup.

“I am the captain for now,” he replied.

The PCB has set aside a prize pool of Rs8.15 million for the tournament. The champions will receive Rs5m and the runners-up Rs2.5m, while the player of the tournament, best batter, best bowler and best wicket-keeper will each receive Rs100,000.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2026