Former Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan returned to competitive cricket for the first time since the Lord’s Test as Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) dominated the opening day of their must-win President’s Trophy seventh-round match against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Rizwan took a catch behind the stumps to dismiss Sarmad Bhatti (31) as KRL were bowled out for 150 in 50 overs. Shehzad Gul and Shahnawaz Dahani claimed three wickets apiece, while Mohammad Imran Randhawa took two.

Rizwan was not required to bat on the first day as SNGPL reached 63 for two at stumps, with Sameer Minhas unbeaten on 40 and Omair Bin Yousuf on five.

SNGPL entered the final round at the bottom of the eight-team table on 53 points, five behind seventh-placed Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on 58. State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) led the standings on 95 points after six rounds, followed by Ghani Glass on 82. KRL and Kingsmen Academy shared third place on 76 points, while Pakistan Television (PTV) were fifth on 71 and MIT Solutions sixth on 69.

The team finishing bottom of the table will be relegated to the Grade-II tournament and lose first-class status for the 2027-28 season, leaving SNGPL under pressure to win their final league match.

OGDCL made a strong start in their crucial fixture against Ghani Glass, reducing them to 10 for three before the batting side recovered to 232 for eight in 74 overs at the LCCA Ground.

Malik Abdul Rafay (28) and Hussain Talat (71) added 48 runs for the fourth wicket. Hussain then shared a 109-run stand for the fifth wicket with Ali Razzaq, who scored 64 off 109 balls with seven fours and two sixes. Hussain faced 147 balls and struck six fours.

Khurram Shahzad was unbeaten on 18 and Ubaid Shah on nine when play ended. For OGDCL, Aftab Ahmed and Mohammad Hasnain took three wickets each for 45 and 53 runs respectively, while Mohammad Amir Khan claimed two for 56.

At the Diamond Cricket Ground, Mohammad Farooq struck his fourth century of the President’s Trophy as MIT Solutions reached 370 for six in 77.2 overs against PTV.

Farooq made 130 off 101 balls, hitting 15 fours and seven sixes, while Abuzar Tariq narrowly missed a maiden first-class century, falling for 98 off 126 balls with 12 fours and three sixes.

Farooq added 161 runs for the opening wicket with Hasnain Nadeem (49), before Abuzar and Atiq-ur-Rehman combined for a 107-run fourth-wicket partnership. Atiq contributed 39. Khalil Ahmed was PTV’s most successful bowler, taking three for 91.

At the National Ground in Islamabad, four half-centuries helped Kingsmen Academy reach 328 for eight against SBP.

Saud Shakeel top-scored with 79 off 163 balls, including four fours and a six. Opener Maaz Sadaqat struck 10 fours in a 63-ball 64, while Usman Khan made 62 off 58 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Mohammad Shayan was unbeaten on 61 off 107 balls, including six fours.

For SBP, Shahid Aziz, Mohammad Abbas and Qasim Akram took two wickets apiece.

Scores in brief (seventh round, day one of four)

MIT Solutions v PTV, Diamond Cricket Ground

MIT Solutions 370-6, 77.2 overs (Mohammad Farooq 130, Abuzar Tariq 98, Hasnain Nadeem 49, Atiq-ur-Rehman 39, Aamir Jamal 30 not out; Khalil Ahmed 3-91) v PTV

KRL v SNGPL, Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium

KRL 150 all out, 50 overs (Shahzaib Khan 43, Sarmad Bhatti 31, Iftikhar Ahmed 28; Shehzad Gul 3-22, Shahnawaz Dahani 3-50, Mohammad Imran Randhawa 2-26)
SNGPL 63-2, 18 overs (Sameer Minhas 40 not out, Omair Bin Yousuf 5 not out)

OGDCL v Ghani Glass, LCCA Ground

Ghani Glass 232-8, 74 overs (Hussain Talat 71, Ali Razzaq 64, Haseebullah 30, Malik Abdul Rafay 28; Aftab Ahmed 3-45, Mohammad Hasnain 3-53, Mohammad Amir Khan 2-56) v OGDCL

Kingsmen Academy v SBP, National Ground

Kingsmen Academy 328-8, 84 overs (Saud Shakeel 79, Maaz Sadaqat 64, Usman Khan 62, Mohammad Shayan 61 not out, Mohammad Suleman 22; Shahid Aziz 2-34, Mohammad Abbas 2-39, Qasim Akram 2-81)