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LAHORE: A lethal bowling display spearheaded by paceman Arshad Iqbal and an unbeaten half-century from opening batsman Shahzaib Khan guided Abbottabad to a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Karachi Whites in the final of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Chasing a modest target of 119, Shadab Khan-led Abbottabad raced to victory with 37 balls to spare, finishing on 120-1 in just 13.5 overs to claim the 2025-26 domestic crown. Shahzaib anchored the chase with a blistering 54 not out off 41 balls, smashing three boundaries and four sixes. He provided a solid platform for the champions by putting on 62 runs for the opening wicket with Afaq Khan, who made 13 before being caught behind off Rizwanullah in the eighth over.
Rizwanullah’s strike proved to be the solitary breakthrough for Karachi Whites as tournament top-scorer Kamran Ghulam joined Shahzaib to finish the game in style. The pair shared an unbroken 58-run partnership, with Ghulam hammering an aggressive 45 not out off 26 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes.
Earlier, Abbottabad’s bowling attack justified their captain’s decision to field by dismantling the Karachi batting lineup, bowling them out for 118 in 18.3 overs. Iqbal set the tone early by removing opener Abdullah Fazal. Karachi Whites’ captain Saud Shakeel failed to convert a promising start, falling for an 18-ball 17 to spinner Shahab Khan. Mohammad Wasim Junior then curtailed Haroon Arshad’s brief cameo at 13, while Razaullah dismissed Saifullah Bangash to leave Karachi reeling at 49-4. Shan Masood (16) and Khawaja Nafay attempted to rebuild the innings with a 27-run stand but Iqbal returned to deal a double blow in the 11th over, dismissing both batsmen to leave the innings in tatters at 83-7.
No9 batsman Saqib Khan top-scored for Karachi with a run-a-ball 22 and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with a late six but the tail could not withstand the relentless pressure. Arshad Iqbal finished with stellar figures of 3-28, while skipper Shadab Khan (2-17), Shahab Khan (2-18), and Razaullah (2-26) tore through the rest of the batting order.
Abbottabad’s Arshad Iqbal was named Player of the Final for his match-winning spell. Sialkot Region’s Usama Mir was named both Best Bowler and Player of the Tournament after finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 16 scalps, just one ahead of Abbottabad’s Shahab Khan. Abbottabad’s Kamran Ghulam picked up the best batsman of the tournament award after finishing with 268 runs while Karachi Blues’ Usman Khan was named best wicket-keeper batsman for his 184 runs and six dismissals.
