ZTBL beat Ghani Glass to emerge champions

ISLAMABAD: The young guns of ZTBL achieved a double delight, wining the Patron’s Trophy Grade II final and earning a place into the first class cricket next season following thumping five wickets win against Ghani Glass at the Pindi Stadium on Tuesday.

Rawalpindi lad Aaqib Shah (47 not out) again turned out to be the mainstay of ZTBL batting, returning unbeaten along with his captain Saad Nasim (31 not out) as ZTBL notched up the winning target of 134 for the loss of five wickets. Aaqib, who hit 72 in the first innings, made sure ZTBL emerged champions with yet another solid innings.

Later taking to ‘The News’, ZTBL coach former legendary leg-spinner Abul Qadir said that he had brought the victory for the bank with totally new look team. “Look I proved that you can win major events with totally new look team. I did not pick the likes of experienced Haris Sohail, Sohail Tanvir and Usman Shinwari.

“Instead I went for totally new look outfit. Apart from captain Saad Nasim, no other player had any vast experience, still we managed to beat the best teams fair and square to emerge champions.”

Qadir said he had made it clear to the domestic pundits that there was dire need of coaching and guidance at youth level. “Talent is in abundance in Pakistan. What requires is the honest selection and proper guidance of juniors. Today these youngsters have responded and I am happy the team returned unbeaten in the trophy.”

The former Test cricketer said that there was hardly any need of coaching at top. “If you want to serve cricket you need to put up your best and honest efforts with juniors. Sadly, that has not been the case in Pakistan cricket and that was why our cricket suffers.”

ZTBL were awarded rupees half a million while Ghani Glass got richer by Rs250,000. Besides that Syed Talat Mehmood, chairman ZTBL, also announced cash incentive of rupees one million for the team.

Scores in brief: ZTBL 293 all out in 78.1 overs (Aaqib Shah 72, Saad Nasim 71, Shakil Ansar 52, Raza Ali Dar 26; Mohammad Umar 4-120, Husnain Bukhari 3-41, Ulfat Shah 2-58) and 134-5 in 33.4 overs (Aaqib Shah 47 not out, Saad Nasim 31 not out, Waqas Saleem 18; Mohammad Umar 4-60). Ghani Glass 55 all out in 34.2 overs (Zeeshan Ashraf 14; Hamza Nadeem 3-17, Bilawal Iqbal 3-27, Waqas Saleem 2-4, Mohammad Ali 2-5) and 369 all out in 130.2 overs (Zeeshan Ashraf 119, Yousaf Babar 84, Mohammad Waheed 63; Mohammad Ali 3-68, Bilawal Iqbal 2-58, Hamza Nadeem 2-88).

Man of the final match: Aqib Shah (ZTBL) Rs50,000; Best batsman of the tournament: Zeeshan Ashraf (Ghani Glass) 512 runs Rs50,000; Best bowler of the tournament: M Ali (ZTBL) 35 wickets Rs50,000.