Babar, Shaheen set for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy opening-round clash

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam and One-day International skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi will headline the opening round of the 69th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, which gets under way across Islamabad, Abbottabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday. Babar will turn out for Lahore Whites, who face Shaheen-led Fata at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, in what promises to be one of the early highlights of the premier first-class competition. Several other established Pakistan players will also feature in the tournament, with Saud Shakeel captaining defending champions Karachi Blues, Mohammad Rizwan leading Peshawar Blues and Imam-ul-Haq taking charge of Multan. Abdullah Shafique will captain Sialkot Blues, while Mohammad Nawaz has been named skipper of Rawalpindi in the Silver tier.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the schedule and team rosters for the Gold and Silver competitions, which will run simultaneously and feature 20 regional sides. Eight teams will compete in the Gold tier, with Karachi Blues, Faisalabad, Fata, Lahore Whites, Islamabad, Peshawar Blues, Multan and Sialkot Blues vying for the title. The competition will run from Nov 3 to Dec 12, with the five-day final scheduled for Dec 15-19. The winners will be crowned champions of the 69th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, while the 12-team Silver competition will provide a pathway to the top tier for next season. The Silver teams have been divided into two groups of six. Lahore Blues, Rawalpindi, Larkana, Quetta, Bahawalpur and Peshawar Whites form Group ‘A’, while Group ‘B’ comprises Karachi Whites, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Hyderabad, Dera Murad Jamali, Abbottabad and Sialkot Whites. Group ‘A’ matches will be staged at the KCCA Stadium, SBP and UBL Sports Complexes in Karachi, while…