LAHORE, Feb 23 (APP):Karachi Region Blues qualified for the final of ABS Developers University of Lahore National T20 Cup to be played on February 24 as well as the National T20 Cup 2026 as they remained unbeaten in Pool A in the T20 tournament at the Gaddafi stadium on late Sunday night.
Earlier, Karachi Region Blues and Quetta Region secured victories against Islamabad Region and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Region, respectively as the Pool A fixtures of Qualifier ended.
The win ensured Karachi Blues’ berth from Pool A in the National T20 Cup 2026, set to be played in March, with four wins in as many games. They have also qualified for the final of the tournament, which is scheduled to take place on 24 February.
The remaining two Pool B fixtures will take place on Monday with the second qualifier and finalist team yet to be decided as FATA, Bahawalpur and Hyderabad are locked in at four points each with one game to go.
In the first match of the ninth round, Karachi Blues opted to bat first and posted 161-4 in their 20 overs on the back of opening batter Ahsan Ali’s 33-ball 45 laced with six fours. Ahsan also shared a 56-run partnership for the second wicket with Mohammad Taha (25, 21b, 2x4s, 1×6).
After Taha and Ahsan were dismissed, wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (28 retired hurt, 24b, 4x4s) and Wahaj Riaz (21 not out, 14b) ensured Karachi Blues posted a competitive total on the board. For Islamabad, Arsal Sheikh picked up two for 28 in his four overs.
In reply, Islamabad were bowled out for 135 in 19.2 overs as they fell 26 runs short.
Arsal, who walked in after Islamabad slipped to 81-5, top-scored with a 25-ball 34, featuring three fours and a six, while wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan Ali made 26 off 30 balls after arriving to the middle with 23-2 on the board. Skipper Ali Imran opened the batting and fell after scoring 24 off 23 balls with the help of three fours.
For Karachi Blues, Mohammad Raza stood out with outstanding figures of 3.2-1-8-2, while Rehman Ghani, Wahaj Riaz, Aarish Ali Khan and Asad Akhtar also dismissed two batters each.
In the second game of the night, AJK were handed a fourth straight loss by Quetta, who bagged their third win of the tournament and finished second on the table while missing out on qualification.
After opting to bat first, AJK lost both their opening batters within first 21 balls with 17 runs on the board. Top-scorer Hasnain Shamir (59, 40b, 5x4s, 2x6s) combined with wicketkeeper-batter Awais Akram Minhas (29, 30b, 1×4, 2x6s) to add 81 runs for the third wicket.
After the duo departed in a space of five balls across the 14th and 15th overs, no.6 batter Saad Asif provided late surge with a cameo of 27 from 10 deliveries, hitting one four and three sixes to lift his side to 149-7 in 20 overs.
Quetta’s Khalil Ahmed bagged three for 19 in four overs, while Najeebullah Achakzai returned figures of 4-0-26-2.
In reply, Quetta chased down the total in 18.3 overs with seven wickets in hand. Opening batter Abdul Wahid Bangalzai scored 42 off 36 balls, hitting seven boundaries.
Wicketkeeper-batter Haseebullah top-scored with an unbeaten 49 off 36 balls, aided by seven boundaries. He also shared an unbeaten 65-run partnership with Hanan Achakzai (39 not out, 3x4s, 2x6s), taking Quetta to victory with nine balls to spare.
Usman Yousaf accounted for two of the three Quetta wickets to fall as he gave away 20 runs in his two overs.
Scores in brief:
Match 17: Karachi Region Blues beat Islamabad Region by 26 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Karachi Blues 161-5, 20 overs (Ahsan Ali 45, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori 28 retired hurt, Mohammad Taha 25, Wahaj Riaz 21 not out; Arsal Sheikh 2-28)
Islamabad 135 all out, 19.2 overs (Arsal Sheikh 34, Rizwan Ali 26, Ali Imran 24; Mohammad Raza 2-8, Rehman Ghani 2-19, Wahaj Riaz 2-21, Aarish Ali Khan 2-28, Asad Akhtar 2-39)
Player of the match: Ahsan Ali (Karachi Region Blues)
Match 18: Quetta Region beat AJK Region by seven wickets at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
AJK 149-7, 20 overs (Hasnain Shamir 59, Awais Akram Minhas 29, Saad Asif 27; Khalil Ahmed 3-19, Najeebullah Achakzai 2-26)
Quetta 150-3, 18.3 overs (Haseebullah 49 not out, Abdul Wahid Bangalzai 42, Hanan Achakzai 39 not out; Usman Yousaf 2-20)
Player of the match: Haseebullah (Quetta Region)
Monday’s fixtures
FATA v Bahawalpur at 4pm PKT
Hyderabad v Rawalpindi at 9:15pm PKT