Tag: Faisalabad

FAISALABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed his delight over the return of international cricket to Faisalabad after a 17-year hiatus on Tuesday.

The historic Iqbal Cricket Stadium in Faisalabad celebrated the return of international cricket with the first ODI of the three-match series between Pakistan and South Africa.

Taking to the social media platform X, Mohsin Naqvi hailed the moment as a proud milestone for the city and Pakistani cricket fans.

“After 17 long years, international cricket finally returns to Faisalabad,” he wrote.

“Delighted to see the excitement as Pakistan and South Africa begin the ODI series here in Pakistan’s own ‘Manchester’. The passion of Faisalabad’s people for cricket is truly unmatched. Insha’Allah, Faisalabad will continue to host international matches in the future.”

After 17 long years, international cricket finally returns to Faisalabad! 🏏
Delighted to see the excitement as Pakistan and South Africa begin the ODI series here in Pakistan’s own “Manchester.”

The passion of Faisalabad’s people for cricket is truly unmatched.
Insha’Allah,…

— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) November 4, 2025

The opening ODI marks the city’s first international fixture since April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets at the same venue.

All three matches of the series are scheduled at the Iqbal Stadium, with the remaining ODIs to be played on November 6 and 8.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The limited-overs contest follows an eventful tour for the Proteas, a 1-1 draw in the two-match Test series and a 2-1 T20I win for Pakistan.

Historically, Pakistan and South Africa have met 87 times in ODIs, with South Africa holding the edge with 52 wins compared to Pakistan’s 34 victories, while one match ended without a result.

READ: THIS Pakistan player named in Women’s World Cup Team of the Tournament

LAHORE: Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Karachi Whites handed Faisalabad a thumping 456-run loss to win the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023-24 title at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Karachi Whites clinched their fifth Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title after defeating Faisalabad at 456 runs on the last day of the five-day final.

Faisalabad captain Faheem Ashraf was the last batter to be dismissed off the bowling of Ghulam Mudassar, sparking off celebrations for the Sarfaraz Ahmed-led side that pocketed a cash prize of PKR 10 million.

Karachi Whites’ last Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) title win came in the 2001-02 season, when they beat Peshawar in the final by eight wickets. Before that, they completed a hat-trick of titles in 1990-91, 1991-92 and 1992-93.

Faisalabad resumed from their overnight score of 129-6 with Faheem leading a counterattack, delaying the inevitable.

Watch QEAT Final Live On ARY ZAP

They lost two wickets in the first session with Ali Asfand and Khurram Shahzad the batters dismissed as Faisalabad reached lunch at the score of 230-8.

Faheem then completed his fourth first-class century off 119 balls, and added 57 runs for the ninth wicket with Arshad Iqbal and 51 runs for the last wicket with Mohammad Ali.

Faheem was eventually dismissed for 147 off 181 deliveries, his career-best score including 23 fours and two sixes.

For Karachi Whites, Ghulam Mudassar registered figures of 3-62 while Shahnawaz Dahani took 2-119. Mir Hamza, Noman Ali and Asad Shafiq bagged one wicket apiece.

At the conclusion of the round-robin stage of the tournament, Faisalabad had topped the points table with Karachi Whites second on the standings. Peshawar’s Sahibzada Farhan topped the batting charts with 847 runs in 10 innings and was awarded best batter of the tournament.

For his 203 in the first innings and 109 in the second innings, Karachi Whites’ Saim Ayub was named player of the final. The victorious team’s captain Sarfaraz Ahmed (697 runs and 28 dismissals) was declared player of the tournament.

Faisalabad duo Khurram Shahzad (36 wickets in eight matches) and Ali Shan (28 catches and one stumping) were named best bowler and best wicket-keeper of the tournament respectively.

READ: PSG outclass AC Milan to get back on track in Champions League

Saim Ayub and Shan Masood’s splendid batting vaulted Karachi Whites to 398 for the loss of just two wickets on the opening day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023-24 final against Faisalabad at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Saim remained unbeaten on 200 at stumps with Omair Bin Yousuf the other batter not out at two. Shan contributed with a remarkable 180 before getting out while opening batter Khurram Manzoor made three runs.

In the five-day final of the country’s premier first-class tournament, QEAT, Faisalabad captain Faheem Ashraf won the toss and decided to field first.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Khurram Manzoor’s dismissal off the bowling of Khurram Shahzad in the fifth over of the day seemed to lift Faisalabad but Shan and Saim soon conjured a riveting counterattack.

The second-wicket stand yielded a mammoth 367 runs in 403 deliveries with Shan and Saim Ayub punishing the Faisalabad bowlers all over the park.

Shan Masood recorded the 24^th first-class ton of his career, smashing 13 boundaries and seven sixes along his 182-ball stay at the crease that was ended by Arshad Iqbal.

Watch QEAT 2023/24 Live On ARY ZAP

Saim Ayub also scored his runs briskly, belting 22 fours and two maximums in his 244-ball 200 not out. This was Saim’s second first-class century, having scored his maiden ton earlier in the tournament against Multan at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.

Faisalabad will be hoping for a better outing on the second day after only Khurram Shahzad and Arshad Iqbal were their successful bowlers on day one as Karachi Whites maintained a run-rate of 5.10.

For the unversed, persistent rain in the region, the first three days of play across the four venues of the QEAT 2023-24 were massively affected and thus no definitive results could be produced on the final day of round seven of the tournament, with all four games ending in draws.

Consequently, Faheem Ashraf’s Faisalabad and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Karachi Whites topped the points table after the conclusion of the seventh round.

READ: Pakistan face spin-heavy Afghanistan in crucial World Cup clash

Sarfaraz Ahmed-led Karachi Whites and Faheem Ashraf-led Faisalabad qualified for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (QEAT) 2023/24 final after their respective seventh-round fixtures failed to contribute a result.

Owing to the influence of rain on the previous three days of play across the four venues of the QEAT 2023-24, no definitive results could be produced on the final day of round seven of the tournament, with all four games ending in draws.

Faheem Ashraf’s Faisalabad and Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Karachi Whites topped the points table after the conclusion of the seventh round.

Consequently, the two sides will now lock horns in the final of the QEAT 2023/24, scheduled to be played from 22 to 26 October at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

In their final group stage fixture, Lahore Blues failed to bank on their first innings demolition as they settled for a stalemate against Karachi Whites.

Resuming from their overnight score of 146 for six in 40 overs, Lahore Blues ended with an innings total of 203 in 58.2 overs on the final day.

Hashim Ibrahim (51, 71b, 8x4s) was the highest scorer for the side. His efforts were supported by Qasim Akram (38, 57b, 5x4s). Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza returned with four wickets while left-arm spinner Noman Ali got three wickets for Karachi.

In their second attempt, Karachi Whites posted 213 runs in 54 overs, while losing six wickets in the innings. Omair Bin Yousuf (65, 87b, 4x4s, 4x6s) and Khurram Manzoor (48, 101b, 6x4s) top-scored for the side.

Usman Qadir and Asfand Mehran got two wickets each, while pacers Ali Shafiq and Hunain Shah returned with a wicket apiece.

The match was drawn when no definitive result was deemed possible on the final day of play.

In the 25th match of the ongoing QEAT 2023/24, Lahore Region Whites only got to bat three overs in the final innings against Faisalabad before the two captains shook hands to draw the match.

At the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Faisalabad started their day from 238 runs for four in 59 overs. They got to 472 runs in 128.2 overs before getting bowled out.

Ali Waqas (151 not out, 282b, 17x4s) was the standout batter in the innings. Irfan Khan Niazi (99, 152b, 10x4s, 1×6) and Mohammad Huraira (87, 121b, 13x4s) were the other contributors with the bat.

Aamer Jamal and Saad Naseem both returned with three wickets each in the innings.

Another last-round QEAT 2023/24 fixture between Rawalpindi and Multan was heavily impacted by rain on three days and was drawn when no definitive results could be foreseen.

Rawalpindi resumed from their overnight score of 150 for two in 43 overs. After batting for 118 overs, they posted 501 runs on the board, losing four wickets in the process.

Haider Ali (170 not out, 228b, 16x4s, 2x6s) was the star performer for the side. Umar Amin (153, 218b, 15x4s, 1×6) was the other prominent batter.

Zeeshan Malik scored a half-century as well, getting to 56 runs in 80 balls, including six boundaries and one maximum.

Meanwhile, another seventh-round QEAT 2023/24 fixture between the FATA Region and Peshawar ended with no result after the first three days of play were washed out.

FATA won the toss and elected to bowl first at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Sahibzada Farhan produced a solid knock, hitting 140 in 148 balls with 27 boundaries.

Kamran Ghulam (102 not out, 177b, 9x4s, 2x6s), Mehran Ibrahim (50 not out, 94b, 5x4s, 1×6), Zain Khan (44, 51b, 10x4s) were the other contributors with the bat. Asif Afridi bagged two wickets while Akif Javed got one wicket to his name.

Peshawar stood at 360 for three at the close of play. The match was drawn.

READ: Pakistan U19 squad for One-day series against Sri Lanka U19 announced