For the last few years Peshawar cricket team has been performing extremely well. Without mega stars the region has stunned even the best teams of the country. In the last few years Peshawar annexed several titles, including two Pentangular Cups (through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team), two T20, a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy crown in 2011-12 and now the National One-day Cup title when they outclassed Karachi Whites by 124 runs in the final at the National Stadium, Karachi, last week.

The credit for these achievements goes to Peshawar’s coach Abdul Rehman who someone said has ‘a magic wand’. He has kept the team united and got the best out of his boys. This was the second National One-day Cup title for Peshawar. The previous had come in 2006-07.

Peshawar also won Quaid-e-Azam Trophy titles in 1998-99 and 2004-05. They were the runners-up of the first-class cricket event in 1997-98 and 2001-02.

With a Master’s degree in International Relations, Rehman is a Level-IV coach who played first-class cricket and appeared in a two-day match against Australian Academy side in 1995-96 after having featured in a tour match against Sri Lanka A in 1989. Rehman was among the probable players for Pakistan’s tour of England in 1996.

Rehman also guided Balochistan to three Pentangular Cup finals.

After having guided his side to a One-day Cup title, Rehman told reporters that the players of Peshawar were the most talented. "They are good students of cricket," Rehman said.

When asked what enabled him to get the best out of his lot, Rehman said: "Honesty is the best policy".

Peshawar Region president Gul Zada, who accompanied the side during the final, told me that the basic reason of his team’s success story was upholding merit. "We don’t compromise on merit," Gul Zada said. Beating star-studded Karachi Blues in the semi-final and crushing Karachi Whites in the final is indeed a superb achievement. Left-handed opener Israrullah led Peshawar’s 23 runs triumph over Khalid Latif-led Karachi Blues in the semi-final with a sparkling 153 not out. A 276-run third-wicket stand between wicket-keeper batsman Gohar Ali (145*) and Test cricketer Iftikhar Ahmed (131*) set up a massive win for Peshawar in the final against Akbar-ur-Rehman-led Karachi Whites.

The curator had prepared fine wickets for the semi-finals and final. Iftikhar, who has played one Test and two One-day Internationals against England, has been the player around whom the team revolves. The way he batted in the final and the way he got the best out of his partner Gohar was a laudable effort.

He is a player with a big heart. He plays with a straight bat. He has all the cricketing shots. He failed in his debut Test against England but he is suited for international cricket. If he is given chances regularly he will get confidence. He was also the most impressive for his department Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy as well as National One-day Cup for Departments this season.

Israrullah and left-arm pacer Taj Wali did a great job for their team in the One-day event. Israr needs to be consistent if he has to attract the selectors.

Karachi Whites’ Anwar Ali performed well in the One-day Cup with both bat and ball and was adjudged the best all-rounder. Dashing international opener Shahzaib Hasan was in terrific form and his match-wining 171 runs knock for Karachi Whites in the semi-final against Islamabad was the best innings of the event. Shahzaib can form an interesting pair with Sharjeel Khan for Pakistan if he is given confidence.

Karachi has not been successful as a team, but it has some fine players. I have been impressed by the Karachi Whites’ left-handed batsman Saad Ali. He is a terrific player, times the ball well and can adapt his game according to the situation of the game. He has already played for Pakistan A and it is hoped that the selectors will give him chance in future. But I would like to tell Saad that No3 and No4 positions at which he normally plays are very important and he will have to play big innings and to be consistent.

It would not be fair if Karachi Whites captain Akbar-ur-Rehman is not mentioned here. Among those players of Karachi who don’t play for Pakistan, Akbar and Asif Zakir, who plays for SSGC, are the best batting products. Akbar has been performing well in all formats of the game for the last few years. It’s time for the selectors to utilise the services of Akbar, who is not only talented but also experienced.

Karachi Blues’ left-handed rookie batsman Saud Shakeel also has a bright future. Test opener Khurram Manzoor amassed 395 runs for Karachi Blues at a staggering average of 98.75. Khurram, fighting for Pakistan comeback, was declared the best batsman of the eight-team event.

Test opener Ahmed Shehzad, (286 runs), who played as a guest player for Islamabad, continued his golden form. Khushdil Shah of FATA was also impressive as he scored 273 runs at 68.25 average, including two centuries. He is a superb young talent and has been consistent. He is set to represent Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) next week.

Young Hussain Talat (319 runs) of Lahore, who played for FATA as a guest player, showed his class by scoring two successive centuries and one fifty.

Sohail Tanvir (15 wickets), Anwar Ali (14 wickets), left-arm spinner Mohammad Asghar (14 wickets) and fast bowler Shehzad Azam Rana (11 wickets) were the leading wicket-takers.

The knock-out stage outings of the One-day Cup were fantastic. These matches originally scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium were shifted to Karachi because of the rains in Punjab that hit most of the matches of the league round in Rawalpindi and Islamabad grounds, and Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar. The fifth and the sixth rounds were abandoned due to rain without a single ball being bowled.

A couple of years ago the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced that in winter events would be organised in the southern region. But the Board perhaps forgot its announcement.