Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Final Round Begins with a Bang: Centuries for Imam, Awais, and Rohail; Hayatullah, Umar Shine with Ball

The final and decisive round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 kicked off with high-octane performances across five venues on Sunday, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the premier first-class tournament. The day was headlined by commanding centuries from Multan’s Imam-ul-Haq, Faisalabad’s Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Islamabad’s Rohail Nazir, while bowlers Hayatullah of FATA and Karachi Blues’ Muhammad Umar stamped their authority with sensational five-wicket hauls.

Imam-ul-Haq’s Masterclass Puts Multan in Command

At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Test opener Imam-ul-Haq played a monumental innings, smashing his 16th first-class century to put Multan in a dominant position against Abbottabad. Opting to bat first, Multan finished the day at a formidable 360-5.

Imam was the cornerstone of the innings, crafting a magnificent 181 off just 232 deliveries, an innings punctuated with 21 fours and a six. After early partnerships with Waqar Hussain (18) and Imran Butt (40), he combined with Sharoon Siraj (83) for a massive 193-run stand for the third wicket, effectively neutralizing the Abbottabad attack. Zeeshan Ashraf (30*) remained not out at stumps. For the hosts, Mansoor Ali was the pick of the bowlers with 3-63.

Awais Zafar’s Rescue Act Revives Faisalabad

In a dramatic turnaround at the Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Muhammad Awais Zafar single-handedly rescued Faisalabad from a precarious 23-4 against Bahawalpur. Awais blasted his seventh first-class century—a scintillating 148 off 177 balls, including 15 fours and seven sixes—to propel his team to 305-9.

He first steadied the ship with a 150-run fifth-wicket partnership with opener Hasan Raza (53) and then accelerated with a 102-run sixth-wicket stand with Raees Ahmed (53). This heroic effort keeps Faisalabad in the hunt for crucial batting bonus points as they vie for a spot in the final. Bahawalpur’s Muhammad Imran took 3-57.

Hayatullah’s Seven-Fer Rattles Lahore Whites

The Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar witnessed a bowling masterclass from FATA’s Hayatullah. The bowler recorded career-best figures of 7-78, single-handedly dismantling the Lahore Whites batting line-up and skittling them for 205.

Despite a 54-run opening stand and a fighting 83-run partnership between Qasim Akram (54) and Hussain Talat (30), Lahore Whites collapsed from 153-4 to 205 all out, with Hayatullah being the chief destroyer. In reply, FATA reached 86-3 at stumps, trailing by 119 runs.

Rohail Nazir Anchors Islamabad’s Strong Total

At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, wicketkeeper-batter Rohail Nazir led from the front with an unbeaten 113, his seventh first-class century, to guide his team to a strong 346-5 against a Peshawar side that is also in contention for the final.

Islamabad was provided a flying start by Shamyl Hussain, who smashed 76 off just 77 balls in an opening stand of 120 with Abdul Faseeh (31). Rohail then consolidated the innings with a 149-run partnership with Naseerullah Khan (73), putting Islamabad in a commanding position.

Karachi Blues Gain Upper Hand in Table-Topper Clash

In the high-stakes clash between the tournament leaders at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Karachi Blues seized the initiative against Sialkot. A fiery spell from Muhammad Umar (5-40), supported by Kashif Bhatti (4-67), bundled Sialkot out for a modest 176.

Sialkot found themselves in deep trouble at 92-7 before Mehran Mumtaz counter-attacked with a brilliant 70 off 61 balls. Mumtaz then contributed with the ball, taking two wickets, but a composed unbeaten 60 from Shan Masood guided Karachi Blues to 144-3 at stumps, trailing by just 32 runs with seven wickets in hand.

Scores in Brief – Ninth Round – Day 1

Multan vs Abbottabad at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium

• • • Multan: 360-5, 84 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 181, Sharoon Siraj 83, Imran Butt 40; Mansoor Ali 3-63)

Faisalabad vs Bahawalpur at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad

• • • Faisalabad: 305-9, 84.1 overs (Muhammad Awais Zafar 148, Hasan Raza 53, Raees Ahmed 53; Muhammad Imran 3-57)

Lahore Whites vs FATA at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar

• • • Lahore Whites: 205 all out, 53.4 overs (Qasim Akram 54; Hayatullah 7-78)

    • FATA: 86-3, 23 overs (Trail by 119 runs)

Islamabad vs Peshawar at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad

• • • Islamabad: 346-5, 86 overs (Rohail Nazir 113*, Shamyl Hussain 76, Naseerullah Khan 73; Mohammad Irfan 2-66)

Sialkot vs Karachi Blues at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

• • Sialkot: 176 all out, 46.2 overs (Mehran Mumtaz 70; Muhammad Umar 5-40, Kashif Bhatti 4-67)