In a spectacle of cricketing excellence, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24 delivered a season filled with records, remarkable performances, and a defining victory that will be etched in the annals of Pakistan’s first-class cricket history. As the season concluded, fans and players alike reveled in the glory of a tournament that showcased the very best of the country’s cricketing talent.
With a total of 24,254 runs scored across 29 matches and 730 wickets falling, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy proved to be an arena for formidable competition. In the span of the tournament, 51 centuries were struck, including an impressive eight double centuries. The highest individual score of 292 was a sublime display of batting brilliance, credited to Multan’s Zain Abbas.
Bowlers, too, left their mark on the competition, as they orchestrated five-wicket hauls on 26 occasions. The most remarkable bowling figures of the season were registered by FATA’s Sameen Gul, who left a lasting impact with his spell of 8-51. Notably, four bowlers achieved the coveted milestone of taking 10 wickets in a single match.
The climax of this season was an awe-inspiring final at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, where Karachi Whites, led by the experienced Sarfaraz Ahmed, reigned supreme. They outclassed the valiant Faisalabad Region to emerge victorious with a stunning margin of 456 runs. This win not only marked the sixth largest victory in Pakistan’s first-class cricket but also the most significant margin of victory in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. For Sarfaraz Ahmed, it was a crowning achievement as he led his team to their fifth Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title, earning his first as captain of the side.
Karachi Whites had been the epitome of dominance throughout the tournament, boasting the likes of Test stars such as Asad Shafiq, Khurram Manzoor, Noman Ali, and Mir Hamza. The squad was further bolstered by the arrival of Shan Masood and Saim Ayub in the latter stages of the tournament.
The final, however, turned into a one-sided affair. Faheem Ashraf’s youthful Faisalabad side, who had fought admirably throughout the season, was unable to maintain their momentum. Despite edging out Lahore Blues by a narrow margin to reach the final, Faisalabad ran out of steam in the title clash.
The final’s highlight was the scintillating centuries by Karachi’s dynamic young opener, Saim Ayub. He followed up his flawless double century in the first innings with another century in the second, a feat never before achieved in a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. Saim joined the elite company of Salman Butt as the only batters to score centuries in both innings of a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.
Contributions from Shan Masood and Asad Shafiq, coupled with a remarkable bowling effort led by Mir Hamza and Shahnawaz Dahani, helped restrict Faisalabad to a mere 124 runs in pursuit of Karachi Whites’ massive first-innings total of 543. Karachi Whites, choosing not to enforce the follow-on, piled on the runs in the second innings. By the time they declared, they held an astonishing lead of 789 runs, making the eventual result a mere formality despite Faheem Ashraf’s valiant century.
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24 was not just about the final, as numerous other exceptional moments graced the season. Multan’s world record-equalling six centuries in an innings during a first-class match showcased the abundance of talent in Pakistan’s cricketing landscape. Karachi Whites also posted the highest total at Gaddafi Stadium, amassing 784-5 against Lahore Whites.
This season’s championship featured eight teams competing in a single-league format. FATA, by finishing last, will now be relegated to the non-first-class Hanif Muhammad Trophy next season, with Islamabad Region set to replace them in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy after their triumph in the Hanif Muhammad Trophy.
Among the top performers, Sahibzada Farhan led the batting charts with an impressive tally of 847 runs, supported by three centuries and two half-centuries, including a career-best 245. Karachi Whites’ captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, with 697 runs, and his teammate Asad Shafiq, with 670 runs, secured the second and third positions in the batting rankings.
In the bowling department, Khurram Shahzad of Faisalabad Region reigned supreme, claiming 36 wickets at an impressive average of 20.31. Mir Hamza followed with 32 wickets at an average of 20.88, an impressive achievement considering the differing pitch conditions he faced. Test fast bowler Mohammad Ali also had a remarkable season, capturing 28 wickets at 25.35.
Wicket-keepers had their say too, with Junaid Ali of Lahore Blues and Ali Shan of Faisalabad concluding the season with 29 dismissals. The winning captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed, accounted for 28 dismissals, further solidifying his status as one of the finest cricketers in Pakistan’s domestic circuit.
As the curtains fall on the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24, the season will be remembered as one that elevated the standards of first-class cricket in Pakistan. It showcased the exceptional talents that lie within the country’s cricketing landscape and, above all, the triumph and glory of Karachi Whites under the leadership of Sarfaraz Ahmed in an unforgettable final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
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