Afridi, Miandad, Sammy and Shoaib appointed PJL mentors.

LAHORE -- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Wednesday appointed cricket greats Javed Miandad, Shahid Afridi, Darren Sammy and Shoaib Malik as mentors of the first edition of the Pakistan Junior League (PJL). PJL is scheduled to be held in October this year in Lahore.

Javed Miandad, a veteran of six ICC ODI World Cups from 1975-1996 will be the league mentor, while Afridi, Sammy and Shoaib are the team mentors. The four household names will also serve as event ambassadors and use their knowledge, influence and attraction to promote and publicise the first of its kind event. PCB will announce three more mentors in due course of time.

The four stalwarts share six major world titles, 1,559 international matches, 43,057 runs and 992 wickets between them. Sammy and Shahid were team-mates in the Peshawar Zalmi team in 2017 when the team in yellow won the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Javed Miandad will be involved as an overall mentor, and assist the mentors of the six sides and the players during the tournament.

Afridi, Sammy and Shoaib will be part of the team dug-outs in the build up to and during the PJL, to be played at the back end of Pakistan versus England T20I series that is scheduled to conclude on 2 October.

PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said: 'I am delighted that we have been able to attract Javed Miandad, Daren Sammy, Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik as mentors for the PJL. Their involvement in the PJL will help us achieve one of our event objectives that revolves around helping future generation of cricketers to achieve the champions and match-winning approach and mindset.

'The involvement of the four icons also confirms that we are on track for delivering a successful event that will go on to help Pakistan cricket in more than one way. Besides creating a winning environment and developing skills and temperament of the teens, we are committed to developing new properties and Pakistan Junior League is an event in that direction', he added.

Javed Miandad said: 'I have always enjoyed being part of the coaching set-up and this opportunity provides me with a chance to return to the field, work with players with bigger objectives and help them achieve excellence. PJL is an exciting and unique product, and I not only look forward to making a meaningful contribution but also project this league as a game-changer.'

Daren Sammy said: 'I am pleased to have been awarded with the opportunity to be involved in the inaugural...