LAHORE: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) will defend its President’s Cup One-Day Tournament title when the eight-team event commences on Monday at four venues in Karachi. The final of the 31-match 50-over tournament – which will be played in a single-league format, with the top four teams progressing to the semifinals – is scheduled for 25 December.

In the first round, Ghani Glass will take on Pakistan Television (PTV) at the HPC Oval Ground; Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) will face Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) at the KCCA Stadium; Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) will meet Sahir Associates at the Naya Nazimabad Stadium; and SBP will play Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) at the UBL Sports Complex.

The teams will be led by Moeez Ghani (Ghani Glass), Iftikhar Ahmed (KRL), Adil Amin (OGDCL), Ammad Butt (PTV), Asim Ali Nasir (Sahir Associates), Shan Masood (SNGPL), Imran Butt (SBP), and Khalid Usman (WAPDA).

Sahir Associates qualified for the Departmental Grade-I competitions after winning the President’s Trophy Grade-II tournament, held from April to June earlier this year.

The winning side will receive a cash award of PKR 5 million, while the runners-up will collect PKR 2.5 million. The tournament’s best batter, bowler, wicketkeeper, and overall player will each receive PKR 100,000. The player of the match in each league-stage and semi-final game will be awarded PKR 25,000, and the player of the final will receive PKR 50,000.

The tournament will be live-streamed on Tapmad for viewers in Pakistan and on the PCB YouTube Channel for fans outside Pakistan. The league-stage matches will be day games, with the first ball to be bowled at 9:30 a.m.