Qalandar Rising Stars team to tour Australia

KARACHI: Following open trials at different venues and an action-packed tournament, PSL franchise Lahore Qalandars have announced a team of 16 Rising Stars who would play a quadrangular tournament in Australia this month.

The team was picked after judging skills of cricketers during the Rising Stars tournament held in Muzaffarabad and Lahore earlier this month. Some players were retained from the previous squad as well.

“This tour to Australia is part of Rising Stars program and it is aimed at providing international exposure to the players towards their development,” said CEO of Lahore Qalandars Rana Atif.

The team will compete against BigBash teams Sydney Thunders, Sydney Sixers and Hobart Hurricanes.

“These players will play a tournament in Australia and the best performers of the tournament will be included in the emerging players category for Lahore Qalandars in PSL,” said Aaqib Javed, Lahore Qalandars Director of Cricket Operation.

Usman Qadir, Mohammad Irfan Jnr, and Saif Badar are retained from last year’s Rising Stars team that toured Australia. Nauman Anwar, who has played a T20I for Pakistan is also part of the squad.

“Nauman was going down to oblivion, we believe that he’s a good talent and deserves a platform to stage a comeback to the system,” added Aaqib.

It was also revealed that former New Zealand Cricketer Kyle Mills will also join Lahore Qalandars Rising Stars squad as their mentor.

Players picked from open trials and Rising Stars tournament to form Lahore Qalandars rising star Team are:

1. Zeeshan Malik

2. Nauman Anwar

3. Saif Badar

4. Sharoon Siraj

5. Sikander Khan

6. M. Naveed

7. Saif Ur Rehman

8. Rohail Nazir

9. Ghulam Rabbani

10. Usman Qadir

11. Kamran Ghulam

12. Haris Rauf

13. Salman Irshad

14. M. Irfan Jr

15. Mamoon Riaz

16. M. Bilawal