Karachi: The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class cricket tournament, is set to conclude with a five-day final between Sialkot Region and Peshawar Region at Karachi’s UBL Sports Complex from January 2-6. After a series of 45 group matches and three triangular stage matches, these two teams have emerged as the finalists, promising a competitive showdown.
According to Pakistan Cricket Board, Peshawar and Sialkot reached the final after topping their respective groups. Peshawar, placed in Group B, secured three wins and two draws in the group stage, while Sialkot, from Group C, remained unbeaten with three wins and two draws. In the triangular stage, Peshawar won one match and lost another, while Sialkot managed a win and a draw.
Sialkot’s left-hand batter Azan Awais has been a standout performer, accumulating 807 runs, including four centuries, in his debut first-class season. For Peshawar, Maaz Sadaqat has been the leading run-scorer with 557 runs, featuring one century and five half-centuries. On the bowling front, Islamabad’s Musa Khan leads with 38 wickets, but Peshawar’s Niaz Khan and Sialkot’s Mohammad Ali have been key bowlers for their teams, with 30 and 22 wickets respectively.
Peshawar’s captain, Sajid Khan, expressed the team’s eagerness for the final, emphasizing their determination to adapt to the conditions in Karachi. “The conditions are different from where we have played our group and triangular stage matches but I trust my side to adjust to the varying conditions,” he stated.
Sialkot’s captain, Amad Butt, highlighted the team’s strong season performance and the contribution of younger players. “It is heartening to see that our youngsters have stepped up and showcased their longer format skills supremely throughout the tournament,” he said.
The squads for the final have been announced, with Peshawar featuring players like Abuzar Tariq and Israrullah, while Sialkot includes key players such as Mohammad Huraira and Azan Awais. The match is expected to draw attention as it will be live-streamed, adding to the excitement for fans and players alike.