Champions of Pakistan Cricket, Karachi Blues Dominate the Final to Clinch 22nd title for the Region
Karachi Blues secured a commanding 218-run victory over defending champions Sialkot in the final of the 68th Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, sealing their 22nd title at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday evening. The dominant performance wrapped up the 46-match season in emphatic fashion and reaffirmed Karachi’s standing as the most decorated side in the tournament’s history.
Karachi lifted the trophy along with a PKR 7.5 million winners’ purse, while runners-up Sialkot were awarded PKR 4 million.
Abdullah Fazal was named Player of the Final, earning PKR 100,000, whereas tournament star Saad Baig collected three major accolades—Best Batter, Best Wicketkeeper, and Player of the Tournament—taking home PKR 250,000 for each. Multan’s left-arm spinner Ali Usman, the leading wicket-taker, was adjudged Best Bowler.
Chasing an imposing 533-run fourth-innings target, Sialkot resumed day five at 12 without loss but were eventually dismissed for 314 in 71.1 overs. Half-centuries from Afzaal Manzoor, Abdullah Shafique and Hamza Nazar provided resistance, yet the Karachi bowlers—led once again by standout pacer Saqib Khan—kept striking at crucial intervals.
Saqib, who finished the competition with 47 wickets in nine matches, delivered another match-defining spell, taking 5 for 86 in the second innings and 9 for 165 overall. His early breakthrough on the final day ended a promising opening stand of 35 between Mohammad Hurraira (39 off 65) and Azan Awais (11).
Abdullah Shafique (58 off 98) stitched partnerships of 46 with Hurraira and 40 with Abdul Rehman (18), but regular wickets pushed Sialkot into trouble at 144 for 5. A spirited sixth-wicket stand worth 112 off 107 balls between Afzaal (63 off 48) and Hamza (56 off 84) briefly delayed Karachi’s charge, until Rameez Aziz broke through in the 57th over, triggering a collapse of five wickets for 58 runs.
Besides Saqib’s heroics, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rameez Aziz claimed two wickets each to complete Karachi’s memorable triumph under captain Saud Shakeel.
Scores in Brief — Day 5
Final: Karachi Blues defeated Sialkot by 218 runs — Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Target for Sialkot: 533
Karachi Blues 1st Innings: 340 all out (81.2 overs)
Abdullah Fazal 88, Usman Khan 82, Saad Baig 39, Saqib Khan 33, Rameez Aziz 22
Mohammad Ali 4-79, Mohammad Hasnain 2-70, Hasan Ali 2-75
Karachi Blues 2nd Innings: 458 all out (133.4 overs)
Haroon Arshad 116, Abdullah Fazal 114, Shan Masood 76, Usman Khan 47, Saad Baig 31
Usama Mir 5-98, Mohammad Hasnain 3-91
Sialkot 1st Innings: 266 all out (71.5 overs)
Mohsin Riaz 71, Hamza Nazar 64, Hasan Ali 41, Abdullah Shafique 32
Saqib Khan 4-79, Muhammad Umar 4-79
Sialkot 2nd Innings: 314 all out (71.1 overs)
Afzaal Manzoor 63, Abdullah Shafique 59, Hamza Nazar 56, Mohammad Hurraira 39, Hasan Ali 25
Saqib Khan 5-86, Rameez Aziz 2-33, Mushtaq Ahmed 2-82
Awards
Player of the Final: Abdullah Fazal (88 & 114 – Karachi Blues)
Player of the Tournament: Saad Baig (1000 runs, 32 dismissals in 10 matches – Karachi Blues)
Best Batter: Saad Baig (1000 runs in 19 innings – Karachi Blus)
Best Bowler: Ali Usman (48 wickets in 8 matches – Multan)
Best Wicketkeeper: Saad Baig – (32 dismissals)
