The fourth round of the prestigious President's Trophy Grade-I 2025-26 tournament kicked off on Thursday, bringing a full day of intense red-ball cricket to four different venues across Karachi. Simultaneous matches at the KCCA Stadium, SBP Sports Complex, NBP Sports Complex, and UBL Sports Complex provided a feast for domestic cricket enthusiasts, with standout individual performances shaping the early narrative of the contests.
Faiq Shines as Sahir Associates Recover
At the KCCA Stadium, Sahir Associates staged a commendable recovery to post 245 for 8 in 92.1 overs against OGDCL after facing early pressure. The innings was anchored by a composed knock from Mohammad Faiq, who scored a patient 93 runs from 188 balls, hitting seven boundaries. He narrowly missed out on a maiden first-class century but built a crucial 97-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Asim Ali Nasir. Nasir's fluent 59 off 115 deliveries propelled him to the top of the tournament's run-scoring leaderboard.
For OGDCL, the experienced left-arm spinner Asif Afridi was the star with the ball. He registered his 18th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket, finishing with impressive figures of 5 for 72 from 33.1 overs to keep his team in the game. Valuable lower-order contributions from Mohammad Saleem (40 not out) and Razaullah (29) helped Sahir Associates reach a competitive total.
KRL and SNGPL Seize Early Initiative
Over at the SBP Sports Complex, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) dominated the opening day. Their bowlers skittled State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) for a modest 106 all out in just 38.2 overs. Mohammad Hamza led the charge with excellent figures of 4 for 17, while Ahmed Bashir and Abdul Wahid chipped in with three wickets apiece. SBP's lone resistance came from Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, who top-scored with 40. In reply, KRL ended the day at 135 for 3, securing a 29-run lead, thanks to an unbeaten 57 from Waqar Ahmed and 25 not out from Imran Rafiq.
At the National Bank Stadium, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) continued their strong form. Shehzad Gul, fresh from an 11-wicket haul in the previous round, maintained his momentum by taking 4 for 40 to bowl out Pakistan Television (PTV) for 166. SNGPL reached 58 for 3 by stumps, with Omair Bin Yousuf unbeaten on 26.
WAPDA in Close Contest with Ghani Glass
The match at the UBL Sports Complex witnessed a closely fought battle. WAPDA bowled out Ghani Glass for 142, despite a fighting, unbeaten 64 from Ali Razzaq. In response, WAPDA finished the day at 129 for 4, trailing by just 13 runs. Their innings was led by an aggressive, unbeaten 42 from Ayaz Tasawar, setting the stage for an intriguing second day.
The opening day of the fourth round successfully highlighted the competitive depth of Pakistan's domestic first-class structure. With teams jostling for position, the performances of established players like Asif Afridi and emerging talents like Mohammad Faiq underscore the tournament's importance as a crucible for national cricket.
