LAHORE: Former champions Karachi Blues made an impressive start to their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 by reaching 346 for five against Faisalabad at the Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad, on the second day in a first-round match.

Danish Aziz and debutant Haroon Arshad stroked centuries as the two middle-order batters put on 188 runs for the fifth wicket after Karachi Blues were in some bother at 129 for four. Danish was still batting on 114 (17×4, 3×6, 153b), while Haroon was dismissed after scoring 101 (13×4, 157b).

Pakistan opener Saim Ayub was the other notable run-scorer, contributing 63 off 89 balls with 11 fours. For Faisalabad, Ateeq ur Rehman, Faham Ul Haq, and Shehzad Gul took one wicket each.

At the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, only 36 overs of play were possible, in which FATA, after being sent into bat by Islamabad, had reached 71 for two. Haseebullah (29) and Mohammad Wasim Khan (14) will resume FATA’s first innings on Wednesday.

At the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Islamabad, Islamabad had reached 91 for one in 28.2 overs after being sent into bat by Lahore. Shamyl Hussain (46) and Rizwan Ali (18) were at the crease when play ended, while Abdul Faseeh (9) was the batter to be dismissed.

At the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Bahawalpur, after being put into bat, were 76 for two in 21.2 overs against Abbottabad. Openers Mohammad Faizan Zafar (13) and Ali Hamza Wasim (13) were the batters to be dismissed, while Mohammad Ammar (30) and Saad Khan (7) will resume their innings on Wednesday morning.

At the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar, no play was possible between Peshawar and Sialkot due to a wet outfield. Play was also not possible across the five venues on the opening day due to rains, while a total of 167.2 overs were bowled on the second day, with 81.3 overs alone bowled by Faisalabad against Karachi.

SCORES IN BRIEF

Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (day 2 of 4, round 1 – no play on day 1 due to rain and bad weather)

AT Marghzar Cricket Ground, Islamabad, Karachi Blues (346-5, 81.3 overs) v Faisalabad, toss Faisalabad.

AT Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Islamabad (91-1, 28.2 overs) v Lahore Whites, toss Lahore Whites.

AT Diamond Cricket Ground, Islamabad, FATA (71-2, 36 overs) v Multan, toss Multan.

AT Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Bahawalpur (76-2, 21.3 overs) v Abbottabad, toss Abbottabad.

AT Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, Peshawar v Sialkot, match yet to start due to bad weather and wet outfield.

Complete scorecards available at https://tinyurl.com/mrmkhwar