Sialkot and Karachi Blues brace for a high-voltage Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final at Gaddafi Stadium
Sialkot, under the leadership of Usama Mir, enter the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final with confidence as they prepare to defend their crown against an in-form Karachi Blues outfit captained by Test star Saud Shakeel. The 68th edition’s title clash will run from 1 to 5 December at the historic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The champions of this season will walk away with a handsome purse of PKR 7.5 million, while the runners-up take home PKR 4 million. Individual honours are also up for grabs—PKR 100,000 for the Player of the Final and PKR 250,000 each for the standout bowler, batter, wicketkeeper and overall Player of the Tournament.
Fans can follow every moment of the final live on PTV Sports both in Pakistan and abroad, while Tapmad will stream the match locally. The commentary box will feature Ali Younis, Raja Asad, Salman Butt and Tariq Saeed.
Sialkot, with titles in 2005-06, 2008-09 and last season (2024-25), are eyeing their fourth championship. Karachi Blues, meanwhile, enter as the most decorated side in the competition’s long history, having claimed nine trophies since 1961-62. Taking into account the achievements of all Karachi-based teams—Blues, Whites, Urban and A—the city collectively boasts an incredible 21 titles. Karachi Whites were the most recent winners from the region in 2023-24.
Interestingly, this final brings back memories of the 2012-13 finale, also played in Lahore, where Karachi Blues defeated Sialkot by nine wickets.
Karachi Blues’ road to the final this season included victories over Multan, Peshawar, Abbottabad, Islamabad and Sialkot in the league phase. They shared points with Lahore Whites and Faisalabad and suffered losses against FATA and Bahawalpur. After a slow beginning—just one win in their first five matches—Karachi surged back to finish on top with a four-match winning streak. They were also one of the four teams that climbed up from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy earlier in the year.
Sialkot, on the other hand, have been consistently strong. Their only defeat came against these same Karachi Blues in the final round, a close contest highlighted by strong performances with both bat and ball. Draws against Peshawar, Faisalabad and Bahawalpur were the only slip-ups. Their spot in the final was confirmed when Bahawalpur stunned Faisalabad, allowing Sialkot to edge ahead on the points table.
Test batter Mohammad Huraira is set for a rare achievement—his fifth consecutive Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final—after turning out for Northern, Faisalabad and Sialkot over the previous four seasons.
In the batting charts, Karachi’s wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig leads with a remarkable 930 runs, to go along with 27 dismissals behind the stumps. Right behind him are Shamyl Hussain (899), Shahzaib Khan (838), Saad Khan (837) and Sialkot’s young talent Azan Awais (790). Apart from Saad, the remaining four all featured for Pakistan in the 2024 ICC U19 World Cup. Other notable run-getters include Karachi’s Shan Masood (562) and Sialkot’s Huraira (560).
With the ball, Multan’s Ali Usman heads the wicket column with 48 scalps, followed by Karachi Blues’ Saqib Khan and Mohammad Abbas tied on 38. Karachi’s attack is further bolstered by Kashif Bhatti (25), Muhammad Umar (24) and Mohammad Asghar (22). For Sialkot, Mohammad Ali has 28 wickets, while Mehran Mumtaz (24) and skipper Usama Mir (23) add balance to their bowling unit.
Sialkot’s wicketkeeper Afzaal Manzoor sits at the top of the dismissal list with 33 catches and seven stumpings—more than any other gloveman in the competition.
Both squads arrive with plenty of top-level experience. Sialkot will rely on Abdullah Shafique, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Huraira, along with Usama Mir and guest pacer Mohammad Hasnain. Karachi Blues counter with a stacked lineup featuring Test duo Shan Masood and Saud Shakeel, alongside internationals Usman Khan and Danish Aziz.
During the pre-final media session at the Gaddafi Stadium, both captains shared their reflections.
Saud Shakeel, Karachi Blues captain:
“It’s been a demanding but rewarding campaign, especially after starting from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. Once we earned our place in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the group showed real character throughout the league stage. Bringing in young players alongside experienced heads was part of our plan from day one, and it has worked well. Karachi has always had a proud tradition in this competition, and we want to carry that forward. A final brings its own pressures, but whoever plays disciplined and positive cricket will come out on top.”
Usama Mir, Sialkot captain:
“Our mindset this season stayed the same as last year’s title run—play like champions. The team adapted brilliantly to changing pitches, whether spin-friendly or fast-bowling tracks. The travel, the shifting conditions, nothing unsettled us because the combinations were spot on. A final always carries weight, and it becomes the defining moment of the season. We’re eager to make it another memorable one for Sialkot.”
15-Member Squads
Sialkot:
Usama Mir (captain), Mohsin Riaz (vice-captain), Abdul Rehman, Abdullah Shafique, Afzaal Manzoor (wk), Athar Mehmood, Azan Awais, Hamza Nazar, Hasnain Khan, Hasan Ali, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Waleed
Support Staff:
Naveed Latif (head coach), Shahid Yousuf (assistant coach), Faisal Khan (fielding coach), Muhammad Ibrahim (analyst), Muhammad Tariq (physio), Shahbaz Khursheed (S&C coach), Hasan Nadeem (manager)
Karachi Blues:
Saud Shakeel (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Danish Aziz, Haroon Arshad, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Asghar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Muhammad Hamza, Muhammad Umar, Mushtaq Ahmed, Ramiz Aziz, Saad Baig (wk), Saqib Khan, Shan Masood, Usman Khan
Support Staff:
Syed Iqbal Imam (head coach), Tahir Mehmood (assistant coach), Wajid Ali (fielding coach), Dr Ahmed Ali Khan (physio), Muhammad Waqar Ali Syed (S&C coach), Shakir Khilji (analyst), Syed Mohammad Ahmed Naqvi (manager)
