Karachi Blues on Top in Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
Rameez Aziz and Saifullah Bangash scored centuries as Karachi Blues took command against Multan on the third day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold second round.
At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues resumed their second innings at 72 for one and reached 393 for five in 92 overs, stretching their lead over Multan to 391 runs. Rameez scored 170, while Saifullah stayed unbeaten on 102.
The pair’s stand has put Karachi Blues in a strong position heading into the final day, with five wickets still in hand and a lead close to 400.
The match so far
Karachi Blues made 214 in their first innings, with Haroon Arshad scoring 48 and Abdullah Fazal 40. Multan replied with 216, built on Imam-ul-Haq’s unbeaten 137, while Asad Umar took six wickets for 45 runs.
Karachi Blues then batted with far more ease in their second innings. Rameez’s 170 anchored the innings, and Saifullah’s unbeaten hundred gave the side a lead that Multan will struggle to chase.
Other Gold matches
At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, Faisalabad dismissed Sialkot Blues for 316 before reaching 194 for three in their second innings. Faham-ul-Haq scored 58 and Asim Ali Nasir 51, giving Faisalabad a 100-run lead.
At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Islamabad extended their first-innings total to 473 for nine, with Sarmad Bhatti scoring 91. Lahore Whites reached 200 for five in their second innings, with Zain Bin Farooq unbeaten on 77 and Tayyab Tahir on 51.
At the National Ground in Islamabad, Peshawar Blues declared on 342 for seven, with Mohammad Rizwan scoring 81. FATA, chasing 333, reached 116 for three, with Fawad Arshad unbeaten on 46.
Silver round: wins for Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites
Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites registered wins on the third day of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Silver second round.
At the SBP Sports Complex, Bahawalpur beat Quetta by three wickets after Mohammad Umair took four wickets for 34 runs to dismiss Quetta for 151 in their second innings.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Mohammad Ilyas completed a 10-wicket match haul as Peshawar Whites beat Lahore Blues by nine wickets.
Elsewhere, Sardar Hassan Raza Khan scored 213 for AJK against Hyderabad, while Karachi Whites reached 112 for four chasing 304 against Sialkot Whites.
What the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy round means
The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy is Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, and the second round is shaping the race for the later stages. Big individual scores, like Rameez’s 170 and Sardar Hassan Raza Khan’s 213, keep the tournament in the spotlight.
The 2026-27 edition splits the first-class teams into Gold and Silver rounds, with the leading sides from each group advancing to the later stages. Karachi Blues’ big lead over Multan, built on two centuries in one innings, gives them a strong chance of topping their Gold group and reaching the business end of the competition.
Pakistan beat Bangladesh in the Asian Games cricket final, while Babar Azam threw a fan’s phone during a pitch invasion. Zimbabwe are out of the Pakistan-Ireland ODI series in January 2027, and cricket matches in Rawalpindi have disrupted trade and daily life.
Frequently asked questions
Who scored centuries for Karachi Blues?
Rameez Aziz scored 170 and Saifullah Bangash stayed unbeaten on 102 against Multan in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold second round.
What is Karachi Blues’ lead over Multan?
Karachi Blues reached 393 for five in their second innings, a lead of 391 runs, with five wickets in hand.
What happened in the other Gold matches?
Faisalabad lead Sialkot Blues by 100 runs, Islamabad made 473 for nine against Lahore Whites, and FATA reached 116 for three chasing 333 against Peshawar Blues.
Who won in the Silver competition?
Bahawalpur beat Quetta by three wickets, and Peshawar Whites beat Lahore Blues by nine wickets, with Mohammad Ilyas taking 10 wickets in the match.
Who scored the biggest hundred of the round?
Sardar Hassan Raza Khan scored 213 for AJK against Hyderabad, the highest individual score of the round so far.
