Sports Bulletin

Peshawar (Sports Report):Abbottabad Region and Sialkot Region booked their places in the semi-finals from Group B after registering victories on the final day of group-stage action in the ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 on Monday night at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar.Abbottabad cruised past Lahore Region Blues by eight wickets, while Sialkot defeated Multan Region by seven wickets in what was effectively a knockout clash. Both teams finished on six points from four matches, with Sialkot topping Group B courtesy of a better net run-rate.In the semi-finals, set to be played on Tuesday, Karachi Whites will face Sialkot, while Abbottabad will go up against Lahore Whites.Sialkot and Multan locked horns in the second game of the night with a semi-final spot on the line. In the end, Sialkot held their nerve to beat Multan by seven wickets with one ball to spare in a chase of 163.Batting first, Multan lost opening batter Mohammad Naeem (4) in the fourth over with 26 runs on the board. Skipper Imam-ul-Haq then added 28 runs for the second wicket with Sameer Minhas (14, 12b, 2x4s) before the latter was dismissed in the seventh over, leaving Multan 53 for 2.Multan then lost two more wickets in quick succession and slipped to 90-4 in 11.4 overs. Imam, however, found support in Bismillah Khan (23, 12b, 3x4s, 1x6), with the pair putting together a 48-run stand to revive the innings.However, the game turned again when Bismillah and Imam fell in the space of five deliveries, triggering a collapse as Multan lost their last six wickets for 24 runs to tumble from 138 for four to 163 all out in 19.5 overs.Imam was the standout performer with the bat, striking 86 off 51 balls with 10 fours and three sixes. For Sialkot, Sufyan Moqim led the bowling effort with three for 37 in four overs, while Usama Mir (4-0-29-2) and Shoaib Akhtar Jnr (4-1-30-2) chipped in with two wickets each.In reply, Sialkot got off to a solid start as opening batters Mirza Tahir Baig (29, 35b, 4x4s) and Khawaja Arham (32, 21b, 4x4s, 1x6) stitched together a 63-run partnership in nine overs. However, both openers fell in the space of three deliveries, with Moheer Saeed (4-0-28-1) dismissing Arham and Arafat Minhas removing Tahir Baig.Arafat began his spell with a maiden sixth over before only giving away seven runs in his remaining three and finished with outstanding figures of 4-1-7-1. Hasan Nawaz then took charge of the chase, first adding 37 runs for the third wicket with Abdullah Shafique (16, 19b, 1x4) off 39 balls in a cautious effort. At the time Abdullah departed in 16th over, Sialkot needed another 64 off 25 balls with the required rate hovering above 15.The next 3.5 overs saw Hasan going from 21 off 20 to 80 not out off 40 and Sialkot nailing the semi-final berth in a spectacular manner. His barrage of boundaries included a six and a four each off 17th and 18th overs before hitting three sixes in the penultimate over and taking 23 runs off it against Sirajuddin.The 13 required off the last over, delivered by Aamer Yamin, were completed with the help of two boundaries by Hasan, a pair of doubles and a single as Sialkot got home in 19.5 overs In the first game, Lahore Region Blues batted first but were bundled out for 86 in 14.3 overs, before Abbottabad Region romped home in 8.2 overs with eight wickets in hand and 70 balls to spare.Shadab Khan led Abbottabad’s charge with the ball, returning figures of 3-0-10-3, while Shahab Khan (1.3-0-11-2) and Arshad Iqbal (3-0-30-2) chipped in with two wickets apiece. For Lahore Blues, only Hamza Zahoor offered some resistance with an eight-ball 18, striking one four and two sixes.In reply, Abbottabad suffered an early blow when skipper Fakhar Zaman fell for naught, but Shahzaib Khan (32, 19b, 5x4s, 1x6) and Kamran Ghulam (46 not out, 23b, 3x4s, 4x6s) stitched together a brisk stand to seal the chase with ease.Scores in brief: Match 19: Abbottabad Region beat Lahore Region Blues by eight wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarLahore Blues 86 all out, 14.3 overs (Hamza Zahoor 18; Shadab Khan 3-10, Shahab Khan 2-11, Arshad Iqbal 2-30)Abbottabad 87-2, 8.2 overs (Kamran Ghulam 46 not out, Shahzaib Khan 32)Player of the match: Shadab Khan (Abbottabad)Match 20: Sialkot Region beat Multan Region by seven wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarMultan 163 all out, 19.5 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 86, Bismillah Khan 23; Sufyan Moqim 3-37, Usama Mir 2-29, Shoaib Akhtar Jnr 2-30)Sialkot 164-3, 19.5 overs (Hasan Nawaz 80 not out, Khawaja Arham 32, Mirza Tahir Baig 29)Player of the match: Hasan Nawaz (Sialkot)

Dubai (Sports News): Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan, England all-rounder Will Jacks and United States of America fast bowler Shadley van Schalkwyk have been shortlisted for the ICC Men’s Player of the Month award for February while Sri Lanka batter Harshitha Samarawickrama, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and India seam bowler Arundhati Reddy complete the women’s shortlist.Sahibzada outshone other batters with a record aggregate in an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup while Will Jacks and Schalkwyk were other standout performers. All three were in the ICC Team of the Tournament announced at the end of the event, Schalkwyk named as the 12th player.Men’s shortlistSahibzada Farhan (Pakistan)The hard-hitting opener amassed 383 runs at an average of 76.60 and a strike-rate of 160.25 in seven T20Is during the tournament. He broke Virat Kohli’s record runs in one edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and became the first to register two centuries in a single edition - against Namibia and Sri Lanka.Will Jacks (England)Jacks had a superb run with both bat and ball. He scored 192 runs at a strike-rate of 173.21 and grabbed 11 wickets at an economy rate of 8.04 in nine T20Is as his team made the semifinals of the tournament. He won four Player of the Match awards.Shadley van Schalkwyk (USA)Van Schalkwyk finished with 13 wickets at an economy rate of 6.80 in four matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He ended the initial group stage as the leading wicket-taker, grabbing four for 25 against both India and Pakistan and following up with a haul of three for 21 against the NetherlandsWomen’s shortlistHarshitha Samarawickrama helped win an ODI series in the West Indies with two half-centuries, Fatima Sana put up a fine-all-round effort in both ODIs and T20Is during the period while Arundhati Reddy was the leading wicket-taker in India’s T20I series win in Australia.Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka)The left-hand batter scored 171 runs averaging 57.00 at a strike-rate of 60.85 in three ODIs that helped defeat the West Indies 2-1 in the Caribbean. She finished as the leading run-scorer in the series with knocks of 66, 35 and 70.Fatima Sana (Pakistan)Fatima scored 57 runs in two ODIs against South Africa at a strike-rate of 126.66 and also grabbed two wickets. She was the leading scorer in the T20Is in South Africa, striking 90 in the first match and an unbeaten 47 in the third. She also took two wickets.Arundhati Reddy (India)Reddy was the leading wicket-taker as India won their three-match T20I series in Australia by a 2-1 margin. She grabbed four for 22, two for 30 and two 35 in the three matches to finish with an average of 10.87 and an economy rate of 7.25.

Lahore (Staff Report):The tickets for the much-anticipated HBL PSL 11 will go on sale from Tuesday, 17 March, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today. The tickets will be available to fans online from 12pm at pcb.tcs.com.pk (infographics attached).The sale of physical tickets at TCS Express Centres will commence from Tuesday, 24 March. More details will be shared in due course.The E-Ticket option will be partially available for Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi stadiums and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The upcoming edition of HBL PSL starting from 26 March will feature 44 matches with eight teams taking part in the marquee event for the first time. For the first time, six venues – Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Peshawar’s Imran Khan Stadium, Multan Cricket Stadium, Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Stadium and Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium will host matches.The final of the event will be played on 3 May at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.To encourage fans to come in large numbers, General tickets in Lahore and Karachi will be available to fans from PKR 250, while fans can purchase general stand tickets for Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium from PKR 300. General tickets in Multan and Rawalpindi will be available from PKR 400.Also, to facilitate families to witness action in Peshawar, an enclosure has been dedicated to families at the stadium for the fixture on Saturday, 28 March between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United. Fans can purchase tickets for the VIP Family Zone for PKR 2,000.Premium tickets for the afternoon match in Peshawar will be available at PKR 1,500, while fans can watch the action from the VIP enclosure at PKR 3,000. The VVIP Gallery will also be available to fans at the Imran Khan Stadium from PKR 6,000.For corporate customers, hospitality boxes will be available at the stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Gallery tickets will be available to fans in all stadiums (infographic attached).HBL PSL CEO Salman Naseer:“The sale of tickets for the HBL PSL 11 beginning tomorrow marks an important milestone as the league enters its 11th year and ushers in a New Era of growth and innovation. Over the last decade, the HBL PSL has established itself as one of the most exciting T20 leagues in the world and we remain committed to taking the fan experience to the next level.“While finalising the ticketing strategy for this season, special emphasis was placed on accessibility for fans across the country. We wanted to ensure that supporters can easily purchase tickets through a convenient online system, while also keeping prices affordable so that families and passionate cricket followers can come to the stadiums and enjoy the action live.“For the upcoming season of HBL PSL, fans can look forward to thrilling contests, with traditional rivalries set to intensify and new rivalries beginning to take shape. Every season brings fresh stories, new heroes and unforgettable moments and we are confident that this year will be no different.”

Abdullah AsjadISLAMABAD:Defending champions Lahore Qalandars will conduct a three-day conditioning camp at the Smart Qalandars High Performance Center in Islamabad as part of preparations for the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League.The camp will begin today and continue until March 18, with training sessions taking place after Iftar from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM.All locally contracted players will participate in the camp alongside Zimbabwe captain and Lahore Qalandars overseas player Sikandar Raza. The camp will focus on conditioning and team preparation ahead of the new season.The squad will regroup with all local and overseas players in Lahore on March 23 after the Eid holidays as preparations shift toward the PSL opener against Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on March 26.

Lahore (Staff Report):Former Test captain and ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2006 and ICC Champions Trophy 2017 winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a distinguished career spanning around two decades.Karachi-born wicketkeeper-batter, who made his ODI debut in 2007 before making his Test and T20I debuts in 2010, went on to represent Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs and 61 T20Is.He scored 6,164 runs across formats, including six centuries and 35 half-centuries. Behind the stumps, he grabbed 315 catches and completed 56 stumpings during his international career.Sarfaraz captained Pakistan in 100 international matches across formats (50 ODIs, 37 T20Is, 13 Tests) and led the side to the No.1 ranking in T20I cricket. During his captaincy, Pakistan achieved a world-record streak of 11 consecutive T20I series victories and recorded six clean sweeps, which include against West Indies (2016 and 2018), Sri Lanka (2017), Australia (2018), New Zealand (2018) and Scotland (2018).Sarfaraz’ leadership era also saw the emergence of several future stars, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan, whom he backed at the start of their international careers.Sarfaraz Ahmed led Pakistan to historic triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy, beating India by 180 runs in the final at the Oval in England. With that victory, Sarfaraz became the first Pakistan captain to win the Champions Trophy and the only captain till date to win ICC titles at both junior and senior levels, having earlier led Pakistan to win in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2006 in Sri Lanka.In recognition of his services and the Champions Trophy triumph, Sarfaraz Ahmed was awarded the Pride of Performance in 2018, becoming the youngest Pakistan captain to receive the honour.Talking about his individual records, Sarfaraz has the Pakistan record of 10 catches in a Test match, which he took against South Africa in Johannesburg 2019. He is till date only Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter to score an ODI century at Lord’s which he scored against England in 2016.Sarfaraz who played his first international match (ODI) in 2007 made his last international appearance in an international match (Test) against Australia in Perth in 2023.Sarfaraz Ahmed said:“It has been the greatest honour of my life to represent Pakistan. From leading the U19 team to a world title in 2006 to lifting the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017, every moment in Pakistan colours has been special. I am grateful to my teammates, coaches, family and the fans for their unwavering support throughout my career.“Captaining Pakistan across all formats was a dream come true. I always tried to play fearless cricket and build a united team. Seeing players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali,Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and others grow into match-winners during my captaincy is one of my proudest achievements.“I would like to thank the Pakistan Cricket Board for the trust they placed in me over the years. Pakistan cricket has always been very close to my heart and I will continue to support the game in every possible way.”

Mohammad Ali SalaarPeshawar: Bahawalpur Region pulled off a four-wicket win over Lahore Region Whites in a last-over thriller, while Faisalabad Region defeated Peshawar Region by 15 runs on the seventh day of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 here at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Friday.In the second game of the night, Bahawalpur edged Lahore Whites by four wickets with two balls to spare while chasing 197.With 11 required off the final over of the innings bowled by skipper Aamer Jamal, Haider Ali was beaten off the first delivery before sending the second ball over midwicket into the stands for a maximum.Haider fetched two runs off the third delivery before striking the winning runs with a boundary off the fourth to seal a four-wicket win for his side. Haider remained unbeaten on 65 off 43 balls, hitting five fours and four sixes.In pursuit of the target, Bahawalpur lost opening batter Mohammad Sudais for naught in the first over before Mohammad Faizan Zafar (28, 22b, 2x4s, 1x6) added 68 with top scorer Saad Khan. Saad then shared another 45-run alliance with Haider Ali before being dismissed in the 12th over after scoring 65 off 30 deliveries laced with seven fours and four sixes as the scoreboard read 115 for three in 11.1 overs.Mohammad Rameez Jnr returned figures of 4-0-21-3, while Aamir, Ubaid Shah and Naseem Shah picked up one wicket each.Electing to bat first, Lahore Whites lost opening batter Muhammad Akhlaq (2) and Mohammad Saleem (4) in the third over with 14 on the board. Top-scorer Faiq (63, 42b, 5x4s, 3x6s) then shared a 110-run stand for third wicket with Tayyab Tahir (46, 34b, 7x4s).Following Tayyab and Faiq’s dismissal in the 15th over to Mohammad Sarwar Afridi (4-0-39-2), Farhan Yousaf added 67 off 31 with Mohammad Mohsin for the fifth wicket to lift Lahore Whites to 196 for five in 20 overs.Mohsin remained unbeaten on 32 off 16, smashing three fours and two sixes while Farhan got out on the final delivery of the innings after scoring an 18-ball 39, supported by four fours and one six.In the first game of the day, Faisalabad Region were inserted to bat by Peshawar and lost Muhammad Faizan for seven in the fourth over, before player of the match Atiq-ur-Rehman and Asim Ali Nasir steadied the innings. The pair added 35 runs for the second wicket, with Asim contributing 14 off 13 balls, hitting two fours. Atiq top-scored with 72 off 44 deliveries, striking 10 fours, while skipper Muhammad Irfan Khan made 32 off 23 balls, which included one four and two sixes. Mubasir Khan’s (27, 15b, 2x4s, 2x6s) late cameo lifted Faisalabad Region to 170 for nine.For Peshawar, Usman Tariq (4-0-20-2) and Mohammad Nawaz (3-0-23-2) shared four wickets.In reply, Peshawar Region’s chase got off to a shaky start as they were reduced to 32 for four in 4.2 overs. Shehzad Gul struck twice in his opening spell, dismissing Abuzar Tariq (11, 8b, 1x4) and Mohammad Haris, while Afaq Afridi and Zaman Khan (1-0-4-1) accounted for Yasir Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed, respectively.Zaman sustained a shoulder injury, which ruled him out of the match, trying to field a ball on midwicket boundary with a dive on the second ball of the 11th over. Nabi Gul and Israrullah, in a bid to revive the innings, stitched a 71-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Nabi departed after scoring 43 off 39 balls, laced with three fours and two sixes, while Israrullah made 47 off 40 deliveries, striking as many boundaries as his partner. Mohammad Imran Jnr also chipped in with an unbeaten 18 off 10 balls aided with one four and one six, but Peshawar Region fell 16 runs short of the target.For Faisalabad Region, Afaq returned figures of 3.5-0-38-4, while Shehzad bagged three wickets for 21 runs in four overs. Faisalabad have played out their four Group A matches and currently sit third with four points and near to no chances for qualification to the semi-finals. On Saturday in Group B, third-placed Sialkot will take on second-placed Abbottabad, while defending champions Lahore Blues will be up against fourth-placed Karachi Blues.Scores in brief: Match 13: Faisalabad Region beat Peshawar Region by 15 runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarFaisalabad 170-9, 20 overs (Atiq-ur-Rehman 72, Mohammad Irfan Khan 32, Mubasir Khan 27; Usman Tariq 2-20, Mohammad Nawaz 2-23)Peshawar 155 all out, 19.5 overs (Israrullah 47, Nabi Gul 43; Afaq Afridi 4-38, Shehzad Gul 3-21)Player of the match: Atiq-ur-Rehman (Faisalabad)Match 14: Bahawalpur Region beat Lahore Region Whites by four wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarLahore Whites 196-5, 20 overs (Mohammad Faiq 63, Tayyab Tahir 46, Farhan Yousaf 39, Mohammad Mohsin 32 not out; Mohammad Sarwar Afridi 2-39)Bahawalpur 198-6, 19.4 overs (Haider Ali 65 not out, Saad Khan 65, Mohammad Faizan Zafar 28; Mohammad Rameez 3-21)Player of the match: Haider Ali (Bahawalpur)Saturday’s FixturesSialkot v Abbottabad at 4.30pm PKTLahore Blues v Karachi Blues at 9.30pm PKT

Abdullah AsjadRAWALPINDI: Pindiz have officially unveiled their coaching and management staff ahead of the upcoming season, bringing together a highly experienced group of cricketing minds to guide the franchise.Pakistan legend Inzamam-ul-Haq will serve as President and Mentor, providing strategic direction and leadership to the team. Former South Africa all-rounder Justin Kemp has been appointed Head Coach, bringing valuable international and T20 franchise experience.Former Pakistan spinner Abdur Rehman joins as Head of Competitive Strategy and Assistant Coach, while West Indies legend Courtney Walsh will lead the bowling unit as Bowling Coach.The staff also includes Shahid Aslam as Performance Coach and Rafatullah Mohmand as Fielding Coach.The experienced lineup reflects Pindiz’s ambition to build a strong, competitive setup and establish a solid foundation for success.

Lahore (PR): Lahore Qalandars have announced that Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage will replace his West Indian counterpart Gudakesh Motie, who has withdrawn from the upcoming 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Wellalage, the 23-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, joins the Qalandars alongside Sri Lanka's T20I captain Dasun Shanaka, who was picked by LQ at the first ever PSL auction. He had a productive T20 World Cup, claiming eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.22. Wellalage is also a handy lower-order batter, capable of sticking around with the tail and hitting big shots. The Qalandars are excited to welcome him to the team and look forward to his contributions in the PSL.

Karachi (Hammad Kayani):The trophy of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 was unveiled in a ceremony held at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi today marking the beginning of a new era for the country’s marquee T20 tournament.The unveiling ceremony was attended by HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, representatives of all eight teams, officials from title sponsor HBL, representatives of Hanif Jewellers and members of the media. The trophy designed and manufactured by Hanif Jewellers, has been handcrafted by 18 master artisans who devoted more than 2,600 hours to complete the masterpiece. The design reflects the journey and growth of the HBL Pakistan Super League over the past decade.At the base of the trophy, eight emerald-cut Gemstones represent the colours of the eight HBL PSL franchises, symbolising the pride of the cities they represent. The tall structure of the trophy signifies discipline, determination and teamwork required to reach the pinnacle of the competition, while the Crescent and Star at the top reflect unity, hope and national pride. The trophy is adorned with more than 1,600 Gemstones, highlighting the craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into its creation.Speaking at the ceremony, HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer said:“This is a historic occasion for the HBL Pakistan Super League as we step into a new era after successfully completing 10 seasons. Over the years, the league has grown stronger with the addition of new teams, record-breaking player auctions, landmark broadcast agreements and ever-increasing support from fans across Pakistan and around the world.“We are grateful to HBL for standing with the Pakistan Super League from day one and playing a vital role in its success. I would also like to thank our franchise owners for their continued trust and commitment and Hanif Jewellers for crafting a magnificent trophy that truly reflects the prestige and ambition of this league.”The 11th edition will feature eight teams and 44 matches across six venues with the opening match set to take place between defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen on Thursday, 26 March. 

Peshawar (SBR):Abbottabad Region and Multan Region emerged victorious against Karachi Region Blues and Lahore Region Blues, respectively, in the fourth day’s fixtures of the ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday night.In the first game, Kamran Ghulam’s unbeaten 42-ball 81, his second successive unbeaten half-century, and Shahzaib Khan’s 75 off 38 deliveries sealed Abbottabad’s comprehensive eight-wicket win while chasing 202 against Karachi Blues. This was Abbottabad’s second successive successful chase of a target beyond 200-run mark after they overhauled Multan’s 204-run target in their opening match. After the early loss of a wicket, Kamran and Shahzaib turned the game on its head with a 115-run stand for the second wicket off just 58 deliveries. Shahzaib brought up his third T20 half-century as he hit 11 fours and three sixes, before falling in the 12th over.Kamran, who collected consecutive player of the match awards, then joined forces with Khushdil Shah to put the result beyond doubt. The pair added an unbeaten 70 off 29 balls, with Kamran finishing on a superb 81 not out laced with 11 fours and two sixes, while Khushdil built on his heroics from the previous game with a brisk unbeaten 38 off 16 balls, hitting four fours and two sixes.Earlier, Karachi Blues had posted 201-4 in their 20 overs, built around opening batter Ahsan Ali’s 67 off 36 balls, which included seven fours and four sixes. His partner Jahanzaib Sultan chipped in with 42 off 29, hitting two fours and three sixes, as the pair stitched together an 88-run stand.Usman Khan contributed 39 off 25 balls with seven fours, while Saad Baig added 26 off 23 deliveries, featuring one four and one six to push their team past the 200-run mark. For Abbottabad, Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-32-2.Arshad Iqbal and Shahab Khan picked up one wicket each.In the night’s second game, Aamer Yamin and Arafat Minhas’ all-round performance handed Multan their first win of the tournament by a mere three runs against Lahore Region Blues. With rain falling and 11 needed off the last over, Aamer held his nerve brilliantly, conceding only two runs off the first two deliveries with a pair of pinpoint yorkers. An overthrow off the third ball brought three runs, leaving the batting side needing six off the remaining three deliveries.Aamer then nailed two more yorkers, allowing just a single and reducing the equation to five needed off the final ball. Facing the last delivery, Shahid Aziz (10 not out, 9b) could only manage a hit to long-on for one, as Multan sealed a thrilling three-run win.In pursuit of the target, Lahore Blues’ opening batter Umar Siddiq all but handed his side the victory before departing in the penultimate over after scoring a 51-ball 91 smashing 13 fours and three sixes.After Lahore slipped from 70 for no loss to 99-4, Umar also forged a threatening 79-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Ali Razzaq, who hammered 45 off 26 balls, striking two fours and four sixes. Aamer got rid of Ali in the 18th over to bring his team back in the game. Earlier, Imran Butt (20, 15b, 3x4s) combined with Umar to provide their team a head start with a brisk 70-run opening stand inside 5.2 overs.Arafat castled Saad Nasim and Qasim Akram to return figures of4-0-23-2, while Sirajuddin dismissed two batters. Moheer Saeed removed Umar in the penultimate over to give his team a sigh of relief.Batting first, Multan managed to score 200-6 in 20 overs courtesy Muhammad Shahzad’s 54 off 40 including three fours and four sixes after coming in to bat at 49-3 in 6 overs. From 147-4 in 17 overs, Multan hit 53 off the last three overs to reach the total. Arafat Minhas (35, 17b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Aamer’s (24 not out, 8b, 3x4s, 2x6s) late onslaught was aided by Waseem Akram Jnr’s cameo of an unbeaten 17 off seven, hitting three fours.Bismillah Khan also chipped in with 27 off 23 balls. For Lahore Blues, Mohammad Rizwan bagged three for 39 in four overs. On Wednesday, Faisalabad will take on Bahawalpur, while Karachi Whites will lock horns with Peshawar in Group A.Scores in brief: Match 7: Abbottabad Region beat Karachi Region Blues by eight wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarKarachi Blues 201-4, 20 overs (Ahsan Ali 67, Jahanzaib Sultan 42, Usman Khan 39, Saad Baig 26; Shadab Khan 2-32)Abbottabad 203-2, 16.4 overs (Kamran Ghulam 81 not out, Shahzaib Khan 75, Khushdil Shah 38 not out)Player of the match: Kamran Ghulam (Abbottabad)Match 8: Multan Region beat Lahore Region Blues by three runs at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarMultan 200-6, 20 overs (Mohammad Shahzad 54, Arafat Minhas 35, Bismillah Khan 27, Aamer Yamin 24 not out, Waseem Akram Jnr 17 not out; Mohammad Rizwan 3-39)Lahore Blues 197-6, 20 overs (Umar Saddiq 91, Ali Razzaq 45, Imran Butt 20; Arafat Minhas 2-23, Siraj Uddin 2-45, Moheer Saeed 1-21, Aamer Yamin 1-29).