Mahira Khan's Baarwan Khiladi is all about cricket, struggle, friendship and rivalry

In its official trailer, upcoming sports web-series Baarwan Khiladi highlights the bias and prejudice faced by promising new cricketers in a sport ruled by powerful and well-connected people. Helmed by actor-cum-producer Mahira Khan, the series is based on a small-town man named Akbar (Danyal Zafar) who wants nothing more than qualifying for nationals. At the same time, the series also shows the other side of the coin and what power can make you do.

The series revolves around the Shaheen XI team that has 12 players, all of whom have qualified for a league. While the story narrates what a young man with dreams has to do in the midst of rivalry, power and an unfair system it also sheds light on the what one has to face to even qualify for the playing 11.

The trailer pits Zafar against Shahveer Jafry and highlights three words — "friendship", "rivalry" and "redemption" — which means this isn't your average story about athletes who qualify for round two.

The series also stars Kinza Hashmi, Sarmad Khoosat, Saba Faisal, Hina Ashfaque, Mohsin Gillani, Shafqat Cheema, Mira Sethi, Usman Peerzada, Fawad Jalal, Salman Butt, Meer Yusuf, Ali Tahir, Khaqan Shahnawaz, Zarrar Khan, Sajjad ul Haq, Ali Abbas, Waqar Ali, Hammad Akmal and Umer Hayat Chaudhry.

There are also some special appearances by Fawad Khan and Shoaib Malik.

The show is going to be presenting a different story than the usual love stories our TV screens are inundated with.

A Twitter user shared how "invested" she is after watching the trailer simply because of the narrative based on a group of men where there is friendship but also competition.

Another user just credited the producer, Mahira for the guest appearance that got everyone screaming in excitement.

One user found Zafar's Punjabi accent "cute" and said Jafry did a good job portraying a product of nepotism.

If there's one thing people love in the trailer, it was Fawad Khan.

But there are also some critics who believe it could've been better.

But giving chances is also important which is why this Twitter user wants to wish the team best of luck.

The series will release on Tapmad on March 5. The teasers of the series were first shared last Feb but didn't give much information about the characters or storyline. At that time, Mahira had described her project as "a coming of age story set against the backdrop of the OG of all games — cricket. A story about friendships, relationships, unity, failure, success, love and courage".

This is Mahira's first project as a producer but she has a lot of experience in being part of productions. Baarwan Khiladi has been written by Shahid Dogar and directed by Adnan Sarwar, who was behind Motorcycle Girl and Shah.