- Quaid Trophy’s fifth round began in Abbottabad, Peshawar, Islamabad and Rawalpindi
- Scorecards and stats are available here; Points table after four rounds is available here; Top performers pictures from day four are available here for free download and editorial use
- Day one highlights of Islamabad v FATA are available here, Abbottabad v Sialkot are available here and Karachi Blues v Bahawalpur are available here
Lahore, 30 October 2025: The opening day of the fifth round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 saw centuries from Sialkot’s Azan Awais, Peshawar’s Iftikhar Ahmed, Islamabad’s Sarmad Bhatti and five-fors from Lahore Whites’ Mohammad Abbas and Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Azab as action began in four cities across five venues on Thursday.
Azan Awais’ eighth first-class century and his 116-run second-wicket stand with Abdullah Shafique (62, 103b) took Sialkot to 322-4 in 83.2 overs against Abbottabad at the Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad.
Left-handed Azan scored 123 off 194 balls inclusive of 13 fours, while Abdullah’s 12th half-century came with the help of nine fours and one six. Mohsin Riaz (48 not out, 74b, 7x4s, 1x6) and Afzaal Manzoor (37 not out, 56b, 5x4s) finished the day with unbeaten 66-run stand.
Peshawar’s Iftikhar Ahmed struck his 16th first-class century to help his team post 320 all out in 84.1 overs against Faisalabad at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi.
Iftikhar, who scored 131 off 204 balls hitting 19 fours and one six, was joined by Mohammad Haris (88, 111b, 12x4s, 3x6s) with Peshawar reeling at 29-4 following Test fast bowler Khurram Shahzad’s two early strikes and a scalp each for Afaq Afridi and Jahandad Khan.
The duo put on 199 runs for the fifth wicket to lift Peshawar out of dire straits. Haris registered his sixth first-class century. No.8 batter Niaz Khan (34, 53b, 4x4s, 1x6) and no.7 Najab Khan (21, 76b, 3x4s) made sure their team crossed 300-run mark after slipping from 228-4 to 292-8.
For Faisalabad, Khurram returned figures of 20-2-90-3, while Jahandad, Ahmed Safi Abdullah and Hasan Raza picked up two wickets each.
Lahore Whites’ Mohammad Abbas picked up his 51st and second successive first-class five-for to help his team bundle out Multan for 164 in 43.4 overs at the Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad. Abbas’ figures read 15.4-5-32-5 as he backed up his previous outing’s 6-78 against Karachi Blues. Aamir Jamal picked up three wickets.
Multan were reduced to 70-6 before Arafat Minhas (45, 51b, 9x4s) and Bismillah Khan (32, 41b, 5x4s) put on 56 runs for the seventh wicket to help their team cross the 150-run mark.
In turn, Lahore were 121-4 in 32 overs at stumps with Ali Zaryab (51 not out, 102b, 8x4s) and Qasim Akram (25 not out, 32b, 5x4s) unbeaten at the crease.
An unbeaten 215-run fifth-wicket stand between Sarmad Bhatti (107 not out, 186b, 20x4s) and skipper Rohail Nazir (96 not out, 147b, 15x4s) led Islamabad to a strong total of 326-4 in 78 overs against FATA at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.
Sarmad struck his 12th first-class century and third in the tournament, while Rohail will look to complete his sixth first-class century on day two.
Bahawalpur found themselves in trouble against Karachi Blues at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar as they closed the day with 55-5 in 18 overs, trailing by 162 runs. Karachi Blues’ Mohammad Hamza picked up two wickets, while Muhammad Umar and Saqib Khan picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Bahawalpur’s Mohammad Azab returned figures of 15-0-70-5 registering his fifth first-class five-wicket haul and second in the tournament as Karachi Blues slipped from 130-1 to 217 all out in 56.3 overs losing nine wickets for 87 runs.
Saad Baig (73, 127b, 11x4s) and Omair Bin Yousuf (70, 120b, 8x4s, 1x6) stitched a 125-run second-wicket stand following Abdullah Fazal’s early departure. No.8 batter Saqib Khan struck a 33-ball 40 hitting five fours and one six, while no other batter except the three got into double figures.
Scores in brief – Round Five – Day 1
Faisalabad v Peshawar at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Peshawar 320 all out, 84.1 overs (Iftikhar Ahmed 131, Mohammad Haris 88, Niaz Khan 34, Najab Khan 21; Khurram Shahzad 3-90, Hasan Raza 2-43, Jahandad Khan 2-56, Ahmed Safi Abdullah 2-57)
Islamabad v FATA at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad
Islamabad 326-4, 78 overs (Sarmad Bhatti 107 not out, Rohail Nazir 96 not out, Umair Riaz 34, Abdul Faseeh 29, Raja Hamza Waheed 20; Akif Javed 2-98)
Abbottabad v Sialkot at Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad
Sialkot 322-4, 83.2 overs (Azan Awais 123, Abdullah Shafique 62, Mohsin Riaz 48 not out, Afzaal Manzoor 37 not out; Shahnawaz Dahani 2-75)
Karachi Blues v Bahawalpur at Imran Khan Stadium, Peshawar
Bahawalpur trail by 162 runs with five wickets remaining in first innings
Karachi Blues 217 all out, 56.3 overs (Saad Baig 73, Omair Bin Yousuf 70, Saqib Khan 40; Mohammad Azab 5-70, Gulfam Aziz 2-33, Zaman Khan 2-52)
Bahawalpur 55-5, 18 overs (Saad Khan 32 not out; Mohammad Hamza 2-21)
Lahore Whites v Multan at Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad
Lahore Whites trail by 43 runs with six wickets in first innings
Multan 164 all out, 43.4 overs (Arafat Minhas 45, Bismillah Khan 32, Imran Butt 30; Mohammad Abbas 5-32, Aamir Jamal 3-58)
Lahore Whites 121-4, 32 overs (Ali Zaryab 51 not out, Junaid Ali 26, Qasim Akram 25 not out; Mohammad Shan 2-20)
