Sports
Bowlers dominate day two of President’s Trophy round six
KARACHI: The second day of the sixth round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I featured dominant bowling performances and a significant century across four matches at different venues here on Wednesday.
At the KCCA Stadium, Shehzad Gul’s five-wicket haul for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) dismantled Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).
Shehzad took five for 38 in 16.4 overs, helping to bowl KRL, who resumed their first innings from 61-2, out for 175 in their first innings and securing a 24-run lead for his side.
Notable contributions for KRL came from Shahzaib Khan (36), Sufyan Moqim (33) and Sarmad Bhatti (30), but their batters lost wickets at crucial junctures of the match.
Shehzad’s fifth five-wicket haul of the tournament elevated his tally to 34 wickets at an average of 9.47.
In their second innings, SNGPL reached 125 for two by stumps, extending their overall lead to 149 runs, with Abid Ali unbeaten on 46.
At the National Bank Stadium, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) closed in on victory against Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL).
SBP posted a first-innings total of 388, building a massive 312-run lead.
Overnight batter Mohammad Huraira completed his 11th first-class century, scoring 110, while Abdullah Fazal was dismissed for a commanding 182, becoming the first batter to cross 500 runs in the tournament.
OGDCL’s Mohammad Amir Khan claimed a five-wicket haul, finishing with five for 95 while fellow pacer Mushtaq Ahmed picked up four for 93.
In response, OGDCL struggled to 125 for five at close, still trailing by 187 runs with all top-five batters back in the hut.
In the match between Ghani Glass and Sahir Associates, Ghani Glass reached 166 for six in their second innings at stumps, holding a lead of 154 runs. Hammad Butt’s 77 and Ali Razzaq’s 33 provided stability after an early collapse.
Earlier, Sahir Associates had been bowled out for 167 in their first innings, securing a slender 12-run lead, thanks largely to an unbeaten 74 from lower order batter Mohammad Mohsin Khan, who walked out to bat when his side were reeling at 75-5. Sahir had resumed from overnight score of 75-2 but then lost eight for 95.
For Ghani Glass, Ali Shabbir took four wickets, while Test pacer Mir Hamza returned figures of three for 31.
At the UBL Sports Complex, Pakistan Television (PTV) held a 152-run lead against Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), finishing the day at 123 for six in their second innings.
Arafat Minhas (28) and Waqar Hussain (22) were the main contributors.
Earlier, PTV’s Ali Usman recorded his 12th first-class five-wicket haul, taking six for 112 to bowl Wapda out for 240, earning a 29-run first-innings advantage.
For Wapda, Khalid Usman top-scored with a rapid 43 as they conceded a 29-run first innings deficit.
Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2026
The Pakistan cricket team on Monday arrived in Sri Lanka for the T20 World Cup, which is set to begin on February 7.
In a post on X, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said that a 15-player squad had arrived in the country.
“The 15-player national squad includes Captain Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Naeef, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, and Usman Tariq,” the PCB said in an earlier post, the informed of the squad’s department for the global event’s venue.
In the latest update about the aquad’s arrival in Colombo, the board said the team would rest on Monday and Tuesday.
“The team will play a warm-up match against Ireland on Feb 4,” PCB added.
The T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on Feb 7.
On Sunday, the government gave the go-ahead for Pakistan’s participation in the tournament, but barred it from playing against arch-rival India on February 15.
The announcement came amid uncertainty regarding a possible boycott of the tournament over Bangladesh’s withdrawal following tensions with India.
A government source told Dawn that Pakistan had refused to play against India to express solidarity with Bangladesh. According to the government source, the primary reason for boycotting the match with India was the ICC’s “biased decision” towards Bangladesh.
BULAWAYO: India completed the semi-final line-up for the ICC Under-19 World Cup with a comprehensive 58-run win over Pakistan in Bulawayo on Sunday.
The victory in the final Super Six match at the Queens Sports Club means the Indian colts head into the knockouts unbeaten and as Group 2 toppers.
After a late surge helped them to 252 in 49.5 overs, India put in a clinical performance in the field to dismiss Pakistan for 194 in 46.2 overs.
India joined Australia, England and Afghanistan into the final four. The Ayush Mhatre-led side face Afghanistan in the semi-finals in Harare on Wednesday. The first semi-final, between Australia and England, takes place in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Put into bat, India powered past 250 thanks to the acceleration provided by the lower order in the last 10 overs.
With a spot in the semi-final on line, India were expecting another blockbuster innings from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Though the left-hander gave the team a brisk start, striking five fours and a six as he motored to 30, he was living dangerously. After two close calls, Sooryavanshi fell to a shorter delivery from Mohammad Sayyam, with a bottom-edge carrying to wicket-keeper Hamza Zahoor.
Starting with Sooryavanshi, India lost three and in the space of four balls. While Sayyam also dismissed India captain Ayush Mhatre, Abdul Subhan bowled over opener Aaron George to reduce India to 47-3.
In their previous match in Bulawayo, India had scored a mammoth 352-8 against Zimbabwe. But on Sunday, the ball wasn’t coming on to the bat as well and stayed low. Vedant Trivedi led India’s fightback with 68. His 62-run fourth-wicket partnership with Vihaan Malhotra (21) helped steer India clear of immediate trouble. Trivedi also put on handy stands with Abhigyan Kundu and RS Ambrish.
After the middle order had kept the scoreboard ticking, the lower order provided the late flourish. Kanishk Chouhan (35 off 29) and Khilan Patel (21 off 15) helped India notch 71 runs in the last 10 overs, lifting the score to 252.
For Pakistan, Subhan dismissed Chouhan and Patel to finish with 3-33 in 9.5 overs.
To qualify for the semi-final at India’s expense, Pakistan needed to chase down the target within 33.4 overs; otherwise, if the innings ended with a six to reach 258, they had until 34.3 overs to get there.
Pakistan showed some early intent, scoring 13 runs off the second over. It seemed their chances hinged on Sameer Minhas, but India were able to send the star opener back fairly quickly. He was trapped leg before wicket by Henil Patel.
Following the early setback, Pakistan never showed any urgency to make a run for the semi-final spot. Hamza Zahoor (42), Usman Khan (66) and captain Farhan Yousuf (38) hung in there gamely even as runs slowed down to a trickle.
Chouhan conceded 30 runs off his 10 overs and claimed the wicket of Zahoor and was named the player-of-the-match. Skipper Mhatre claimed three wickets for 21 in his overs while Khilan Patel got 3-35.
Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2026
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