Rain Declares Joint Champions in National Women’s T20 Tournament

Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi have been named joint champions of the National Women’s T20 Tournament 2023-24, following the cancellation of the final due to rain. This conclusion came after a competitive series of 30 matches played in a double-round robin format, highlighting the depth of talent across the teams.

According to Pakistan Cricket Board, the tournament featured six teams, each playing 10 matches. Lahore topped the league stage with an impressive 10 wins out of 10 games, securing 20 points. Karachi and Rawalpindi followed, both with six wins, but Karachi edged out Rawalpindi for the second position based on a superior Net Run Rate (NRR). Multan, Quetta, and Peshawar rounded out the fourth to sixth positions, respectively, with Multan winning five games, Quetta three, and Peshawar finishing without a win.

The tournament showcased exceptional performances, with Rawalpindi captain Aliya Riaz and Multan captain Gull Feroza jointly named players of the tournament. Riaz was notable for her 370 runs, including an undefeated century and three half-centuries, alongside her 10 wickets. Feroza, as the second-highest run-scorer, accumulated 479 runs highlighted by five fifties.

Lahore’s Sidra Amin received the best batter of the tournament award, leading the run-charts with 494 runs, which featured an unbeaten century and three half-centuries. Lahore wicket-keeper Sidra Nawaz was distinguished as the tournament’s best wicketkeeper with 15 dismissals.

The bowling accolades went to Lahore’s leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima as the best bowler of the tournament, taking 21 wickets at an impressive average and economy rate. Nashra Sundhu, also from Lahore, and Karachi’s Syeda Aroob Shah were among the top bowlers, with Sundhu achieving the only five-wicket haul of the tournament.

The tournament’s conclusion as a joint championship due to rain did not overshadow the remarkable achievements of the players and teams involved, setting a high standard for future competitions.