The Thunder Academy will be in action next week as they play the Sydney Sixers Academy twice, before they face Pakistan Super League team Lahore Qalandars, who will be sending a fifteen man Player Development squad to Australia, after selecting the players from open trials which attracted more than 113,000 participants.

The Lahore Qalandars, who have a strategic partnership with the Sydney Thunder will also play two warm up games against grade sides and the MoneyGram Thunder Nation Cup All Stars The Qalandars are PSL team is also coached by Thunder Head Coach Paddy Upton and have just appointed Thunder Assistant Coach Shaun Bradstreet as their Fielding Coach.

Congratulations to the 15 #Qalandars who will realize their dreams, travel to Australia and play with the best. #DamaDamMast pic.twitter.com/tQSS6J0Zhi

— Lahore Qalandars (@lahoreqalandars) October 27, 2016

The Thunder Academy side on Tuesday could feature five contracted players and also see NSW Blues wicketkeeper Jay Lenton make his first appearance for the Academy.

Lenton, who was previously a member of the Sydney Sixers Academy has played three first class games for NSW.

Ryan Gibson, Chris Green, Arjun Nair and Nathan McAndrew have all been awarded Big Bash contracts after being part of the Thunder Academy, which was set up two seasons ago.

Last year’s tournament saw the Thunder Academy beat the Sixers Academy in the final with Ryan Gibson making an unbeaten 46. His form saw him selected on Thunder’s tour of New Zealand before being named as a replacement player for Usman Khawaja during BBL05 ahead of being Michael Hussey’s first signing after being named Director of Cricket.

Thunder are also likely to call on other contracted players for the tournament including newly appointed captain Shane Watson and Ryan Gibson.

Squad To Face Sydney Sixers Academy: Kerrod White, Daniel Solway, Jordan Gauci, Jason Sangha, Chris Green, Tom Rogers, Henry Hunt, Jay Lenton, Arjun Nair, Nathan McAndrew, Liam Hatcher and Gurinder Sandhu

Thunder Academy Fixtures

1 November - v Sydney Sixers Academy - Practice Match (BISP)

3 November - Sydney Sixers Academy – Tournament Match (Drummoyne Oval)

15 November - v Lahore Qalanders – Tournament Match (Pratten Park)

The final of the tournament will be played on 17 November