Qasim Akram put on a fine all-round performance to power Lahore Region Blues to a thrilling win against Quetta Region in the final round of the 2025-26 Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
Qasim Akram scripts Lahore Region Blues' turnaround
Lahore Region Blues conceded a 102-run first-innings lead despite posting 450 with the help of Umar Siddiq’s 130. Their remarkable comeback was orchestrated by an all-round performance from Akram.
In the second innings, after captain Imran Butt backed up his first-innings fifty with a score of 112, Lahore Region Blues received vital contributions from the middle and lower order. Siddiq again came good, making 55 off 61. The momentum was sustained by blazing knocks from Mohammad Mohsin and Qasim at No.5 and 6, respectively. While Mohsin’s 73 came off 55 balls, Qasim’s 77 was even quicker, requiring just 42 deliveries. They both remained unbeaten as Lahore Region Blues set Quetta Region a target of 281 to win.
Also read: Hanif Mohammad: The Little Master – Almanack
Buoyed by his quick-fire fifty, Qasim then spun a web around the Quetta Region batters with his off-breaks, bowling them out for 92 in 44.3 overs. He picked up 7-54 from 19 overs, as nine of the opposition's batters recorded single-digit scores. Quetta faced a 188-run defeat with captain Bismillah Khan's first-innings 319 going in vain.
Qasim had also taken 3-114 in the first innings, finishing with match figures of 10-168. He has neever picked more than five wickets in a first-class match, but this performance wouldn't be added to his records given the "non-first-class" status of matches in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy.
Who is Qasim Akram?
The 22-year-old Qasim has previously captained the Pakistan Under-19 side. His leadership tenure began at the 2021-22 Under-19 Asia Cup, which ended with a semi-final loss to Sri Lanka. He then led the team at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, where Pakistan finished fifth. In that tournament, he was a key all-rounder, finishing as the team's second-highest run-scorer (203 runs at 50.75) and second-highest wicket-taker (10 wickets at 17.00).
PCB allow 10 teams for Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
Four top teams – instead of previously decided two – from the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will now qualify for Pakistan's first-class tournament, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, finalising its 10-team line-up. This is a change from the originally announced, curtailed eight-team format, which was a significant reduction from last year's 18-team competition.
"The PCB – following careful consideration and taking stakeholders on board – has decided to allow four teams to qualify for the QeA Trophy as opposed to two in order to widen the access of more quality players to top-flight domestic and first-class cricket," a statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board read.
According to the new qualification plan, Faisalabad (87 points) and Lahore Blues (74 points) from Group A, along with FATA (108 points) and Karachi Blues (96 points) from Group B, would have qualified for Pakistan’s first-class competition.
However, the PCB statement confirmed that FATA (108 points), Karachi Blues (96 points), Faisalabad (87 points), and Multan (86 points) have qualified.
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