Salman Butt's reinitiation, Nasir Jamshed's dismal start
Talking points from the first round of matches in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2016-17
ESPNcricinfo staff
04-Oct-2016
File photo - Salman Butt marked his return to first-class cricket with a knock of 31 • AFP
The notable comeback
Salman Butt made his return to first-class cricket, leading Water and Power Development Authority against Lahore Blues. Butt had last made an appearance in Pakistan's domestic circuit in a match for National Bank of Pakistan in October, 2009, against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, in Faisalabad. Butt returned after a near seven-year absence, five of which were spent serving out a ban for his involvement in spot-fixing in the 2010 Lord's Test against England.
Salman Butt made his return to first-class cricket, leading Water and Power Development Authority against Lahore Blues. Butt had last made an appearance in Pakistan's domestic circuit in a match for National Bank of Pakistan in October, 2009, against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, in Faisalabad. Butt returned after a near seven-year absence, five of which were spent serving out a ban for his involvement in spot-fixing in the 2010 Lord's Test against England.
Butt was allowed to return once the punishment ended, but was barred from playing first-class cricket, with the PCB wanting to regulate his return closely, and put him through a rehabilitation programme before his reintegration into the cricket community. Butt was allowed to play in limited-overs tournaments, however, where he had impact. But playing in a first-class season was set as a prerequisite before he could be considered for national selection.
Butt marked his return with 31 in the first innings. He spent 80 minutes at the crease, before right-arm pacer Waqas Ahmed dislodged his stumps. Butt didn't come out to bat in the second innings, though. With WAPDA set a target of 28, Butt held himself back and promoted Adnan Raees, who, along with Rafatullah Mohmand, won them the match with all 10 wickets intact.
The best bowling performance
Tabish Khan, a Karachi-born fast bowler, who made his first-class debut in 2003 has since always been in reckoning for national selection, but has remained overshadowed. In his opening match of the season, Tabish, playing for Karachi Whites, ripped through Pakistan International Airlines twice, in the process registering his fourth match haul of 10 wickets or more. Playing in his 99th first-class match, Tabish, 31, took 11 for 76, which took his career wickets tally 427 at an average of 24.78. One of the defining features of Tabish's bowling has been his delivery angle and sharp pace, which has made his talent stand out since the early years of his domestic career. Tabish first came into the limelight when he took 77 wickets at 23.62 in the 2009-10 season, before further asserting himself in 2011-12 when his 77 wickets came at an average of 19.96. But, despite those performances, he never rose above the Pakistan A side.
Tabish Khan, a Karachi-born fast bowler, who made his first-class debut in 2003 has since always been in reckoning for national selection, but has remained overshadowed. In his opening match of the season, Tabish, playing for Karachi Whites, ripped through Pakistan International Airlines twice, in the process registering his fourth match haul of 10 wickets or more. Playing in his 99th first-class match, Tabish, 31, took 11 for 76, which took his career wickets tally 427 at an average of 24.78. One of the defining features of Tabish's bowling has been his delivery angle and sharp pace, which has made his talent stand out since the early years of his domestic career. Tabish first came into the limelight when he took 77 wickets at 23.62 in the 2009-10 season, before further asserting himself in 2011-12 when his 77 wickets came at an average of 19.96. But, despite those performances, he never rose above the Pakistan A side.
The most disappointing performance
Nasir Jamshed, a promising left-hand batsman who has played two Tests, 48 ODIs and 18 T20 internationals for Pakistan, last turned out in national colours in an ODI against UAE in 2015. He is best remembered for his twin hundreds against India when Pakistan visited for a limited-overs series in 2012-13. But he hasn't looked assertive since, and has largely been lost in the wilderness. Pakistan have always had a vacant opening slot, which makes the ongoing first-class season all the more relevant for top-order batsmen. Jamshed, however, made a dismal start, notching up 7 and 36 for National Bank of Pakistan against Lahore Whites in Faisalabad.
Nasir Jamshed, a promising left-hand batsman who has played two Tests, 48 ODIs and 18 T20 internationals for Pakistan, last turned out in national colours in an ODI against UAE in 2015. He is best remembered for his twin hundreds against India when Pakistan visited for a limited-overs series in 2012-13. But he hasn't looked assertive since, and has largely been lost in the wilderness. Pakistan have always had a vacant opening slot, which makes the ongoing first-class season all the more relevant for top-order batsmen. Jamshed, however, made a dismal start, notching up 7 and 36 for National Bank of Pakistan against Lahore Whites in Faisalabad.
The fightback
The PCB recently approved a series of day-night first-class games, allowing all first-class teams to get exposure to the pink ball under lights. Experimentation with the pink ball got off to an extraordinary start in this tournament, as Karachi Blues scored 702 runs in the second innings against United Bank Limited at National Stadium in Karachi.
The PCB recently approved a series of day-night first-class games, allowing all first-class teams to get exposure to the pink ball under lights. Experimentation with the pink ball got off to an extraordinary start in this tournament, as Karachi Blues scored 702 runs in the second innings against United Bank Limited at National Stadium in Karachi.
Moreover this happened after the first innings of the match was dominated by the bowlers. Karachi Blues, after being dismissed for 111 in first innings, returned in the second innings to bat for almost three days and draw. Khurrum Manzoor smacked a double-hundred, with Khalid Latif scoring 148, but United Bank took away with three points from the match on the basis of a first-innings lead with Sialkot-born left-arm spinner Yasim Murtaza snapping up 8 for 231.