Faisalabad win Grade II final, qualifies for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy

KARACHI: Faisalabad region has qualified for the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class tournament after beating Multan in the final of grade II on Tuesday.

Led by Pakistan’s Test captain Misbahul Haq, Faisalabad region defeated Multan by nine wickets on the third day of the four-day final.

Multan region, riding on an unbeaten century by Imran Rafiq, scored 245 runs in the first innings of the match. Imran scored 130 runs as Faisalabad’s Ahmad Saifi took six wickets to put hosts’ batsmen on back-foot.

Faisalabad, in response, scored 361-8 in the first innings to take a lead of 116 runs. Captain Misbahul Haq scored 94 runs off 130 deliveries, he smashed one six and stroked 10 boundaries before falling six runs short of his century. Ali Rafiq scored 81 while Khurram Shahzad scored 70 runs.

With first innings deficit of 116 runs, Multan continued to struggle in the second innings as well and were bowled out of 217 runs. Fast bowler Samiullah Niazi took six wickets conceding 58 runs. Sohaib Maqsood was only Multan batsman who could show some resistance and scored 103 runs.

Faisalabad took just 21.5 overs to reach the target of 102 runs for the loss of just one wicket on the third day of final. Usman Arshad scored 45 while Ali Rafiq scored an unbeaten 44.

With this win, Faisalabad has qualified for the next season’s prestigious Quaid-e-Azam trophy first-class tournament. They were also awarded prize money of 500,000 PKR.

Misbah was declared man of the final. Sialkot’s Ayyaz Tasawur was awarded best batsman while Hyderabad’s Nasir Awais was awarded best bowler of the tournament.

Bahawalpur’s Imranullah was adjudged best all-rounder of the tournament.