President's Trophy Archives

Six-star Sajid puts SNGPL on top against Sahir Associates

KARACHI: Off-spinner Sajid Khan took a six-wicket haul to put Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in a commanding position against Sahir Associates in the first round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025–26 here at the National Bank Sports (NBP) Sports Complex on Monday.

SNGPL continued from their day one score of 460-2 with Shan Masood adding only four to his overnight score of 212 runs.

The left-hander was removed after scoring 216 with the team eventually declaring after racking 575-5.

In reply, Sahir Associates were bowled out cheaply for 136, leaving a huge deficit that allowed SNGPL to enforce the follow-on.

Asim Ali Nasir remained the only notable contributor with a half-century to his name. At the same time, Sajid Khan tormented Sahir Associates’ batting lineup with six for 22, which was equally supported by Mohammad Salman (2-26) and Shahnawaz Dahani (2-47).

With follow-on enforce, Sahir Associates’ top order again demonstrated a shambolic batting display, with three down for 68 at the end of the day’s play.

Asim again stood tall with an unbeaten 33 while Dahani scalped two wickets for 16.

In another contest at the National Bank Stadium, Wapda resumed their first innings after skittling KRL for 116.

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A resolute knock of 77 by Sharoon Siraj lifted WAPDA to 151 all out in 51.2 overs, giving them a 35-run lead.

Mohammad Hamza starred with the ball for KRL, claiming five wickets for 36 runs, while Arshad Iqbal took three wickets.

KRL’s second innings showed greater application as Waqar Ahmed (52, 41b, 11x4s) and Shahzaib Khan (51, 117b, 7x4s) knitted an 84-run partnership for the second wicket.

At stumps, KRL were 189-7 in 45.2 overs, extending their overall lead, though Naqeebullah’s three wickets kept WAPDA in the contest heading into day three.

Resuming their first innings at the overnight score of 67-2, Ghani Glass were bowled out for 246 against OGDCL. Mohsin Riaz (98, 176b, 13x4s, 1×6), Ali Razzaq (62, 156b, 7x4s, 1×6), and Sharjeel Khan (53, 98b, 9x4s) struck half-centuries to secure a 50-run first-innings lead.

OGDCL, in their second inning,s were 75-2 at stumps, with Israrullah unbeaten on 35 and Abdul Rehman Muzammil 28 not out, sharing an unbroken 54-run partnership for the third wicket.

At the State Bank Stadium, SBP resuming their first innings at 106-4 and leading by seven runs, were dismissed for 153 in 64.2 overs, courtesy three wickets each from Amad Butt and Israr Hussain, giving SBP a 54-run lead.

In turn, Mohammad Suleman led the fightback for PTV with an unbeaten 75 off 128 balls, including six fours and four sixes.

While Test cricketer Usman Salahuddin (42, 96b, 4x4s, 1×6) and Arafat Minhas (31 not out, 31b, 4x4s, 1×6) provided solid support as PTV closed the day on 191-5 in 47.2 overs.

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Shahnawaz Dahani lits up President’s Trophy with career-best figures, hat-trick

Shahnawaz Dahani registered his best bowling figures in first-class cricket and also made headlines with a brilliant hat-trick on his way to a six-wicket haul in the third round of the President’s Trophy.

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines’ (SNGPL) decision to bowl first against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), paid dividends as they bundled out SBP for a modest total in 59.1 overs.

Dahani took a career-best haul of 6-40 in a fiery spell that included a hat-trick as well. Umar Amin (48, 97b, 4x4s) top-scored while Zain Abbas (36, 84b, 4x4s) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (32, 66b, 4x4s) departed after showcasing some resistance.

Shahnawaz Dahani’s hat-trick broke the back of SBP’s innings as he reduced them to 133-7. Mohammad Awais Anwar struck twice while Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Ali picked a wicket each.

SBP bowlers, Mohammad Ilyas and Sameen Gul, struck regular blows with the new ball to leave Sui Northern Gas Pipelines 48-4 after being dismissed for 170 earlier in the day.

Asad Shafiq (4 not out, 24b, 1×4) and Bilawal (2 not out, 10b) will be on the crease for SNGPL at the start of day two.

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) notched the second-highest total of the President’s Trophy as they raced to 411 for the loss of seven wickets in 80 overs.

20-year-old Abdul Faseeh (153, 171b, 15x4s, 6x6s) scored his fourth first-class hundred and set the tone of the KRL innings.

Sharoon Siraj (64, 74b, 4x4s, 3x6s) and Waqar Ahmed (60, 79b, 12x4s, 1×6) chipped in with valuable half-centuries. Maaz Sadaqat (46, 45b, 3x4s, 1×6) helped KRL breach the 400-run mark.

Mohammad Azab bagged three wickets while Waseem Akram, Aarish Ali Khan and Mohammad Junaid picked up one apiece.

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Higher Education Commission (HEC) closed the day with 41-1 as Arshadullah dismissed Jahanzaib Sultan (4, 5b, 1×4) early on. Saad Khan (21 not out, 25b, 3x4s) and Mohammad Huraira (14 not out, 19b, 2x4s) saw off the day as HEC trailed by 370 runs.

Ghani Glass found themselves in the driving seat on day one of the third round of the President’s Trophy as they posted 319 for the loss of nine wickets in the allotted 80 overs.

In reply, Pakistan Television (PTV) lost two wickets in just 1.5 overs without a single run on the board. Shoaib Akhtar removed Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Junaid for ducks before stumps were drawn.

PTV opted to bowl first and reduced Ghani Glass to 48-4 in the first session. Later in the day, the tide turned in favour of Ghani Glass as Saad Nasim (150, 198b, 21x4s, 1×6) took the team out of the trouble on the way to his 10th first-class hundred.

Skipper Hussain Talat (49, 66b, 7x4s, 1×6) and Shahbaz Javed (45, 78b, 6x4s) contributed with vital runs as well. Mohammad Rameez Jnr (15 not out, 24b, 2x4s) helped Ghani Glass cross the 300-run mark.

Mohammad Sadaqat picked up three wickets while Adil Naz struck with the new ball to bag two wickets. Hasan Mohsin, Uzair Mumtaz, Israr Hussain and Mohammad Junaid dismissed a batter each.

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Umar Akmal heroics inspire WAPDA to beat HEC in President’s Trophy

KARACHI: Umar Akmal’s sensational 84-run knock in the second innings powered the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) to secure a four-wicket win over the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the second round of the President’s Trophy.

Umar Akmal scored back-to-back fifties in the game to inspire his team to second win of the tournament. Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) had won their respective games the previous day.

WAPDA continued from their overnight score of 114-4. They lost two more wickets while chasing the 220-run target. Umar Akmal (85, 203b, 10x4s) and Ayaz Tasawar (65, 125b, 10x4s) stretched their fifth-wicket partnership to 98 before the former fell to Aqib Liaqat.

Bismillah Khan (17 not out, 22b, 2x4s, 1×6) hit the winning runs as WAPDA got home with two sessions remaining and four wickets in the bag.

HEC’s Mohammad Junaid picked up three wickets to keep his team in the game but it went in vain. Aqib Liaqat also bagged two wickets while Mohammad Azab’s lone wicket came on day three.

At the end of the second round, WAPDA skipper Iftikhar Ahmed is leading the batting chart with 386 runs while his fellow teammate Asif Afridi sits on top of the leading wicket taker’s list having taken 11 wickets.

The third round of the tournament will kick off on 28 December.

On the third day of the second round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines (SNGPL) won their games as they beat Ghani Glass and Pakistan Television (PTV) respectively.

KRL sealed a memorable victory against Ghani Glass as they won by just one wicket while chasing 123 in the dying moments of day three. KRL’s pursuit of 123 had faltered at the start when they were reduced to 67-6.

Their last four batters, Kashif Ali (30 not out, 40b, 2x4s, 1×6), Shayan Sheikh (9, 11b, 1×4), Sirajuddin (5, 14b) and Arshadullah (8 not out, 25b, 1×4) faced a combined total of 100 balls and added 52 vital runs to the total.

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Kashif Ali top-scored for KRL while batting at number eight. He spent crucial time in the middle making sure his team ekes out the win while wickets fell on the other end at regular intervals.

Ghulam Mudassar and Niaz Khan’s four wicket-hauls went in vain as the Ghani Glass bowling attack failed to pick up the last wicket.

In another second-round President’s Trophy fixture, SNGPL beat PTV by eight wickets to register their first win of the tournament.

PTV started their second innings from the overnight score of 66-0. Both opening batters, Hasan Nawaz (69, 92b, 9x4s) and Nasir Nawaz (62, 100b, 9x4s, 1×6), struck fluent half-centuries taking the opening partnership to 130.

Leg-spinner, Arif Yaqoob, who registered the figures of 10-177 in his maiden first-class appearance, enforced PTV’s collapse when he got Nasir out.

Soon, he dismissed skipper Uzair Mumtaz and Daniyal Hussain Rajput for ducks. Hasan Mohsin (21, 29b, 4x4s) and Taimur Khan (7, 25b, 1×4) resisted for a while, before the team was dismissed for 189.

Arif bagged six wickets. Mohammad Ali returned with two scalps while Bilawal Bhatti and Mohammad Awais Anwar picked up one wicket each.

SNGPL chased PTV’s target of 85 in 21 overs with eight wickets in hand. Sahibzada Farhan (51, 61b, 4x4s, 4x6s) struck a fine half-century to direct the chase. SNGPL will now face the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on 28 December at SBP Stadium.

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President’s Trophy: Saad Nasim’s ton saves Ghani Glass, WAPDA seal first win

The first round of President’s Trophy Grade-I came to an end with the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) winning their games while the fixture between Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited and Ghani Glass ended in a draw.

Saad Nasim smashed an unbeaten hundred to save the game for Ghani Glass, while Asif Afridi struck regularly to help WAPDA reap triumph.

Ghani Glass managed to eke out a draw against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) by batting out the whole day and only losing four wickets.

In pursuit of 408, Ghani Glass managed 300-6 in 96 overs. Continuing from their overnight score of 38-2, Kashif Ali (59, 115b, 10x4s) and Tayyab Tahir (60, 141b, 7x4s) scored fighting half-centuries.

Skipper Moeez Ghani was dismissed for a duck leaving Ghani Glass 168-5. At this point, Saad Nasim and Mohammad Irfan (55, 118b, 5x4s, 1×6) put on a sixth-wicket partnership of 124 runs to put SNGPL on the back foot. Saad (105 not out, 173b, 9x4s, 4x6s) scored an unbeaten hundred to save the game for his team.

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Mohammad Ali managed four wickets while Mehran Mumtaz and Mubasir Khan managed one wicket each. Other SNGPL bowlers remained wicketless.

Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) resumed from their overnight score of 39-1, whilst in pursuit of 286 to win.

WAPDA took the remaining nine wickets in 61.3 overs. Only Sarmad Bhatti (60, 152b, 6x4s) and Ali Zaryab (37, 65b, 4x4s) managed to put up some resistance but then KRL lost six wickets for 69 runs, awarding WAPDA a win by 48 runs.

Asif Afridi bagged four wickets. Naqeeb Masood and Tahir Hussain picked up two wickets each. Captain Iftikhar Ahmed and Hassan Abid Kiyani dismissed one batter each.

The second round of the tournament will kick off on 22 December across four venues in Karachi.

SNGPL will face Pakistan Television (PTV) at UBL Sports Complex while Ghani Glass will face Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at SBP Sports Complex in the second round of the President’s Trophy.

READ: PCB introduces new rules for President’s Trophy Grade-I

PCB introduces new rules for President’s Trophy Grade-I

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made some changes to four-day cricket playing conditions for the President’s Trophy Grade-I on a trial basis to make the tournament more competitive and result-oriented.

Restricting the first innings of teams to 80 overs is aimed at improving scoring rates in domestic cricket, revamping the current approach and developing an attacking style of play in line with modern-day cricket.

This will provide data for comparing the competitive standards of this tournament with the previous tournament, which was played according to traditional first-class rules.

The board will take input from all participants at the end of the President’s Trophy to assess the outcomes of these rules.

The PCB expects fans and pundits alike to be patient with their assessment of this domestic tournament, which is taking place after a gap of four years.

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The PCB affirms that a decision on the following revisions will be made after the conclusion of the President’s Trophy. These changes include:

9.1 Rolling

After the toss, the captain of the batting side may request the umpires that the pitch be rolled for not more than 7 minutes. This request shall be entertained only if the request has been made within 5 minutes after the Toss.

12.7 Hours of Play; Minimum Overs Requirement

All matches in the subject tournament will be restricted to 80 overs in the first innings. The second innings will be open.

16.9 Points

If a captain decides to either declare or forfeit his team’s first innings before the completion of 80 overs, the bowling side will get bowling bonus points.

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