Sialkot held their nerve in a gripping final against Peshawar, sealing a dramatic one-wicket victory on Day 4 at the UBL Sports Complex in Karachi to lift their third Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title. The unbeaten champions wrapped up their flawless campaign with five wins and three draws in eight matches.
A Hard-Fought Chase
Resuming their chase of 173 at 59-5, Sialkot found themselves in deep trouble. But captain Amad Butt rose to the occasion, steering his team with a composed 65 off 94 balls, including nine fours and a six. He shared a crucial 48-run seventh-wicket stand with Shahzaib Bhatti, who played a gritty 32 off 51 balls*, hitting the winning boundary to seal the title.
The contest took a dramatic turn when Sajid Khan bowled Amad with Sialkot still needing 56 runs. As wickets tumbled, Shoaib Akhtar Jr’s departure in the 46th over left Sialkot with just one wicket in hand and one run needed. Shahzaib Bhatti held his nerve to finish the chase in 46.2 overs, ensuring a fairytale finish.
Bowling Brilliance on Both Sides
For Peshawar, Niaz Khan’s fiery 4-61 and Mohammad Amir Khan’s 3-60 kept them in the contest, while Sialkot’s bowlers had earlier dominated with Ali Raza’s 10-wicket haul (7-48 & 3-62) and Amad Butt’s all-round heroics (4-51 & 2-66, plus 65 runs) proving decisive.
Tournament Honors
- Player of the Final: Amad Butt (Sialkot)
- Best Batter: Azan Awais (Sialkot) – 844 runs in 8 matches
- Best Bowler: Musa Khan (Islamabad) – 38 wickets in 5 matches
- Best Wicketkeeper: Afzal Manzoor (Sialkot) – 39 dismissals in 8 matches
- Player of the Tournament: Niaz Khan (Peshawar) – 39 wickets in 8 matches
A Fitting End to a Thrilling Season
Sialkot’s unbeaten run and resilience under pressure marked them as worthy champions of Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament. With young stars like Azan Awais, Ali Raza, and Niaz Khan shining, the future of Pakistan’s domestic cricket looks bright.
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