Zaid Hassan, a seasoned sports journalist, led Cricket Pakistan as editor for four years, shaping its coverage with insightful analysis. Now a producer at Nukta, he expands into broader storytelling while remaining a key voice in Pakistan’s sports media.
Pakistan Gold players celebrate with the trophy after winning the National Champions Cup title on Tuesday.
PCB
Shaheen Shah Afridi delivered a stunning match-winning performance as PakistanGold defeated Pakistan Greens by 101 runs to lift the National Champions Cup 2026-27 title at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
How did Pakistan Gold seal the title?
Chasing 341 for victory in front of a packed Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan stands, Greens appeared firmly in control at 143-1 after 20.4 overs. But Shaheen turned the final on its head, ripping through the batting order with career-best List A figures of 7-36 in 8.3 overs.
His seven-wicket haul included a hat-trick and helped Greens collapse from 143-1 to 239 all out in just 37.3 overs.
Shaheen was named Player of the Match, while his performance also earned him the Best Bowler award for the tournament with nine wickets.
How did Greens lose their way?
Greens began the chase confidently, reaching 53 before Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for 31 off 28 balls by Mubasir Khan.
Saad Baig then joined Omair Bin Yousuf and the pair launched a counterattack. Their 90-run partnership put Greens in a strong position, with Saad scoring 67 off 51 balls, including nine fours and two sixes, while Omair contributed 44 from 50 deliveries.
Razaullah finally broke the stand by removing Omair, before Faisal Akram trapped Saad in the 22nd over.
Shaheen then produced his first burst of destruction, dismissing Farhan Yousuf, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Suleman in the 27th over as Greens slipped to 167-6.
Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah briefly revived the chase with a 61-run partnership, but Shaheen returned in the 36th over to remove Naseem.
How spectacular was Shaheen’s finish?
Shaheen saved his best for the final stages.
Returning in the 38th over, the Pakistan ODI captain completed a sensational hat-trick by dismissing Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Mohammad Hasnain with the first three deliveries of the over.
His figures of 7-36 became his best in List A cricket and his fourth five-wicket haul in the format. He also registered the 19th List A hat-trick on Pakistan soil.
Who set up Gold’s huge total?
Earlier, Pakistan Gold posted 340 all out after choosing to bat first, thanks largely to centuries from Shamyl Hussain and Saad Khan.
Shamyl struck 111 from 93 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes, while Saad produced an equally impressive 112 off 102 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes.
The pair shared a 137-run partnership after Shamyl had earlier added 78 for the opening wicket with Muhammad Akhlaq, who scored 31.
Shamyl reached his century in emphatic fashion, smashing consecutive sixes off Mohammad Hasnain in the 29th over. He departed five overs later, while Saad was dismissed for 112 in the 34th over.
Abdul Samad’s 25 and Mubasir Khan’s 21 helped Gold push their total beyond 300 and set Greens a daunting target.
Who were the tournament’s standout performers?
Fakhar Zaman was named Best Batter and Player of the Tournament after finishing with 269 runs and one wicket.
Saad Baig was named Best Wicketkeeper after scoring 170 runs and recording five dismissals.
Shaheen, meanwhile, capped his tournament with the decisive performance of the final, combining pace, accuracy and late-match aggression to lead Pakistan Gold to the National Champions Cup crown.
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