(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Abbottabad Claim National T20 Cup Title With Dominant Victory Over Karachi Whites
Abbottabad Region secured the National T20 Cup 2026 title with a convincing nine-wicket win over Karachi Whites in the final played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday.
Opener Shahzaib Khan played a key role in the victory, scoring an unbeaten half-century to guide his team comfortably in the chase.
Match Summary
Karachi Whites, batting first, were restricted to 118 runs in 18.3 overs after a disciplined bowling performance from Abbottabad. The innings struggled for momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals, preventing any significant partnerships from developing.
Only one Karachi batter crossed the 20-run mark, with Saqib Khan top-scoring with 22 off 22 balls. Captain Saud Shakeel contributed 17 runs, while other batters failed to convert starts into meaningful scores.
Abbottabad’s bowlers maintained consistent pressure throughout the innings, sharing wickets evenly and limiting Karachi’s scoring opportunities.
Abbottabad’s Chase
Chasing a modest target of 119, Abbottabad reached the total in 13.5 overs, losing just one wicket.
Shahzaib Khan remained unbeaten on 54 off 41 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes. He was well supported by Kamran Ghulam, who scored an unbeaten 45 off 26 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes.
The only wicket in the chase came when Afaq Khan was dismissed for 13 runs off 17 balls.
Venue and Tournament Update
The final was originally scheduled to take place in Peshawar but was delayed due to weather conditions and later moved before being played in Lahore.
