Pakistan Shaheens Eye Winning Start Against England Lions in UAE Series

ABU DHABI, FEBRUARY 26, 2026: Pakistan Shaheens are gearing up to secure a winning start against the formidable England Lions when their five-match One-Day International series begins on Friday. All matches will take place at the Stadium Oval in Abu Dhabi, commencing with play scheduled for 10 AM local time each day.

The teams recently concluded a successful three-match T20 series that ended with the Lions triumphing by a convincing 3-0 margin. England captain Jordon Cox stood tall, scoring a remarkable 111 runs across three games and impressively taking eight wickets to contribute significantly to his team’s success. On the other side of the pitch, left-arm spinner James Coles also shone brightly with his bowling prowess.

Despite not achieving a win in this series, Pakistan Shaheens showcased promising young talent such as 21-year-old Maaz Sadaqat, who managed an impressive aggregate score of 102 runs across three matches. In the field, Shamyl Hussain, acting as team captain, and Hasan Nawaz both delivered half-centuries in their games.

In terms of bowling performance, right-arm leg-spinner Saad Masood picked up five wickets, while fast bowler Shahid Aziz added two more from his outings. Both players also contributed with the bat during the third T20 match, scoring unbeaten scores of 29 and 30 runs respectively, aiding in the unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket.

The series will be broadcast in Pakistan on Ten Sports, streamed live across the country via Myco, and will be available to viewers in the UK through ’s OTT platform. In Bangladesh, fans can catch the action at T Sports, while Myco’s streaming service will provide coverage of the tournament in the MENA region. For an international audience, match highlights will also be available on the dedicated Sports Central YouTube channel.

Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, head coach of Pakistan Shaheens speaking to Digital ahead of this One-Day series, expressed his excitement for what lies ahead. “Following our recent successful T20 series, we’re set to kick off a challenging five-match One-Day International campaign against the Lions,” he said. “Transitions from Twenty20 cricket to the 50-over format are never easy and require strategic planning.”

“Reflecting on the challenges faced in the previous T20s, our preparation has been meticulous thus far,” Ahmed Jnr added. “However, we recognize that moving into a different format will demand specific adjustments. We’ve set small goals for each player to help them adapt effectively.”

“The upcoming series presents a significant learning opportunity for the players, given that England Lions are composed of several high-quality international talents. The match environment here mirrors those found in international cricket, which should provide valuable insights for our young Pakistan Shaheens,” he emphasized.

Pakistan Shaheen’s squad comprises:

– Shamyl Hussain (captain)
– Abdul Samad
– Arafat Minhas
– Ahmed Daniyal
– Akif Javed
– Hasan Nawaz
– Maaz Sadaqat
– Mohammad Salman
– Muhammad Amir Khan
– Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper)
– Saad Baig (wicketkeeper)
– Saad Masood
– Sameer Minhas
– Shahid Aziz
– Sufyan Moqim

Player support personnel include:

– Sarfaraz Ahmed (mentor and team manager)
– Ijaz Ahmed Jnr (head coach)
– Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach)
– Aizaz Cheema (bowling coach)
– Imranullah (trainer)
– Mohammad Tahir (physiotherapist)
– Usman Hashmi (performance analyst)

The Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions are scheduled to square off as follows:

1st match: 27 February

2nd match: 1 March

3rd match: 4 March

4th match: 6 March

5th match: 9 March