Peshawar and Sialkot set to compete for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title from Thursday

The 68th edition of Pakistan’s premier first-class tournament, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, will culminate with the five-day final between the Sialkot Region and Peshawar Region from 2-6 January at the UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.

Peshawar and Sialkot have made it to the top after completing 45 group matches and three triangular stage matches. Among the six-team three groups at the start of the tournament, Peshawar was placed in Group B, while Sialkot was stationed in Group C.

Peshawar topped their group with three wins and two draws out of five matches. In the two triangular stage fixtures, they won one and lost one. Sialkot have been unbeaten in the tournament, winning three and drawing two of their group games. Their two triangular stage fixtures included a win and a draw.

Azan Awais stands out among the batters with 807 runs in seven matches in his maiden first-class season. He hit four centuries, two half-centuries and has a highest score of 203 not out. For Peshawar, Maaz Sadaqat has scored the most runs, 557 in five matches, including one century and five-half centuries.

On the bowling front, Islamabad’s Musa Khan stands tall with 38 wickets – seven best of the second-placed Ahmed Bashir - in five matches. For Peshawar, pacer Niaz Khan has bagged 30 scalps in seven games at an average of 22.43. Sialkot’s fast bowler Mohammad Ali has the most wickets for his team – 22 in four matches at 15.95.

Peshawar Squad: Sajid Khan (captain), Abuzar Tariq, Azam Khan, Hilal Khan, Israrullah (vice-captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Mehran Ibrahim, Mohammad Amir Khan, Mohammad Zulkifal, Nabi Gul, Niaz Khan, Sajjad Ibrahim, Waqar Ahmed, and Zubair Khan

Sialkot Squad: Amad Butt (captain), Abdul Rehman, Afzal Manzoor, Ahsan Hafeez Bhatti, Ali Raza, Ashir Mehmood, Awais Ali, Azan Awais, Fahad Jamil, Hamza Nazar, Mohammad Huraira (vice-captain), Mohsin Riaz, Mohammad Waleed, Shahzaib Bhatti, and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr