Former Pakistan Under-19 captain Saad Baig continued his rapid rise, bringing up his third first-class century in just five matches during the 2025-26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.
Saad Baig records third first-class century
Batting first at Islamabad, Karachi Blues lost their first wicket for 15 when Haroon Arshad fell to Peshawar’s Mohammad Amir Khan for a duck. Amir Khan struck again, this time removing Omair Yousuf for 15, before Mohammad Imran dismissed Shan Masood for a duck to reduce Karachi to 63-3.
That began the innings’ revival, with opener Baig and Usman Khan stitching together a 133-run partnership. Usman finished with a 95-ball 84, hitting 13 fours and a six. Baig was also the common denominator to the next stand – a 65-run partnership with captain Saud Shakeel. In the process, he brought up his century. His marathon innings ended on the 210th ball when he fell to Pakistan Test spinner Sajid Khan for 109, having hit three fours and two sixes.
Also read: 51, 78, 137*: Teenage son of Pakistan great continues to impress with maiden first-class century
Shakeel, meanwhile, ended the day unbeaten on 63 off 128, with 10 fours. Karachi Blues closed on 323 for 7.
Match 30, Karachi Blues vs Peshawar
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Still only 19, this was Baig’s third century in his last five first-class matches. He had already announced himself earlier with a career-best 154 against Multan, followed by a 149 against Lahore Whites only three innings ago.
His consistency has placed him firmly near the top of the season’s batting charts. With 631 runs at an average of 63.10, Baig is currently the second-highest run-scorer of the campaign, trailing only Bahawalpur’s Saad Khan, who has 646 at an imposing 92.28.
Who is Saad Baig?
A left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, Baig captained Pakistan to the semi-finals at the 2024 Under-19 World Cup. He began that tournament brightly with a 55 against Afghanistan, though his returns tapered off as the competition progressed, finishing with 92 runs at an average of 18.40.
His only hundred for Pakistan U19 to date came on his debut in a Youth Test against Bangladesh U19 in 2022. After scoring a duck in the first innings, Baig bounced back with a 172-ball 117.
Following a duck on his PSL debut for Karachi Kings in 2024, Baig was initially overlooked in the following season’s draft. However, later the franchise announced him as a partial replacement for Kane Williamson.
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