Shaheen’s 7-36 inspire Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold to National Champions Cup title
Multan (Irum Abdullah): Shaheen Shah Afridi led Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold to the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 title with a stunning haul of seven for 36 including a hat-trick as Rivaj Pakistan Greens fell short by 101 runs in the final chasing 341 here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night.
The seventh and final match of the tournament concluded with Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan stands packed to capacity. Pakistan Gold won the toss and were led to a strong total after opting to bat first by two southpaws Shamyl Hussain and Saad Khan who both registered sparkling centuries and shared a 137-run stand.
In turn, Greens were cruising at 143-1 in 20.4 before they crashed spectacularly, losing nine for 96, seven of which were plucked by Shaheen as he finished the game with hat-trick. Shaheen’s 7-36 in 8.3 overs are his best List A figures and his fourth haul of five or more wicket in the format.
He also claimed the 19th List-A hat-trick on Pakistan soil along with returning ninth best List-A figures in Pakistan. Greens got off to a brisk start collecting 53 runs before Fakhar fell to off-spinner Mubasir Khan for a 28-ball 31.
Saad Baig (67, 51b, 9x4s, 2x6s) and Omair Bin Yousuf (44, 50b, 2x4s, 2x6s) then steered the chase with a brisk 90-run stand which felt like taking the game away from Gold but they struck back with Razaullah removing the latter.
Faisal Akram then pinned Saad in 22nd overr before Shaheen got into the act by first claiming Farhan Yousuf, then Shadab Khan and Mohammad Suleman both in 27th over. With Greens 167-6 in 26.5 overs, Faheem Ashraf (38, not out, 30b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Naseem Shah (31, 27b, 2x4s, 2x6s) arrested the imminent collapse with a threatening 61-run stand which was broken by Shaheen in 36th over.
The Pakistan ODI captain returned in 38th over to claim Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Mohammad Hasnain on the first three balls and finished the game in style.
Earlier, Shamyl registered his third List-A century, while Saad scored his second in the format as they showcased their talent with the bat. The duo were united at the crease in the 17th over and separated in the 34th. Shamyl had first shared a 78-run opening stand with Muhammad Akhlaq (31, 44b, 4x4s), while Kamran Ghulam departed early.
Shamyl brought up his century in style with consecutive sixes against Mohammad Hasnain in the 29th over before falling for 111 off 93 balls (11x4s, 4x6s). Saad fell for 112 off 102 balls and struck 11 fours and four sixes in his outing. Abdul Samad (25, 25, 1x4, 2x6s) and Mubasir (21, 17b, 1x4, 1x6) contributed enough to stretch the score well beyond the 300-run mark.
For the Greens, Shaheen, Faheem and Shadab picked up two wickets each, while Mehran and Hasnain accounted for one batter each.
Scores in brief
Pakistan Gold 340 all out, 50 overs (Saad Khan 112, Shamyl Hussain 111, Mohammad Akhlaq 31, Abdul Samad 25, Mubasir Khan 21; Faheem Ashraf 2-40, Shadab Khan 2-45, Naseem Shah 2-59)
Pakistan Greens 239 all out, 37.3 overs (Saad Baig 67, Omair Bin Yousuf 44, Faheem Ashraf 38 not out, Naseem Shah 31, Fakhar Zaman 31; Shaheen Shah Afridi 7-36)
Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold)
Best batter and player of the tournament – Fakhar Zaman (260 runs, 1 wicket)
Best bowler of the tournament – Shaheen Shah Afridi (9 wickets)
Best wicketkeeper of the tournament - Saad Baig (170 runs, 5 dismissals)
Tournament results: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium)
11 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets
12 August – Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets
13 August –Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs
14 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs
15 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs
16 August – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets
18 August – Final – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Greens by 101 runs
