In thrilling National Champions Cup finale, Pakistan’s premier domestic 50-over tournament delivers drama, centuries, and a hat-trick for the ages
By Asher Butt
The Multan Cricket Stadium, packed to its rafters with passionate fans filling the Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan stands, witnessed something truly special on Tuesday night. It wasn’t just the crowning of Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold as champions of the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27—it was the coronation of Shaheen Shah Afridi as the undisputed king of the tournament.
In a final that had everything—centuries, a dramatic collapse, and a hat-trick that will be replayed for years—Pakistan Gold emerged victorious by 101 runs, but the numbers only tell half the story. The real narrative unfolded in the space of 8.3 devastating overs when Shaheen, Pakistan’s ODI captain, produced the bowling performance of his career: 7 for 36, including a hat-trick, the best List A figures of his life, and the fourth time he has taken five or more wickets in the format.
A final for the ages
Pakistan Gold, having won the toss and elected to bat, posted a formidable 340 all out. The foundation was laid by two young southpaws who announced their arrival on the big stage in spectacular fashion. Shamyl Hussain, in only his third List A appearance, crafted a sublime 111 off 93 balls, his century punctuated by consecutive sixes off Mohammad Hasnain in the 29th over. Saad Khan matched his partner stroke for stroke, compiling 112 off 102 deliveries, his second century in the format.
The duo shared a 137-run partnership that transformed the Gold innings from solid to sensational. Muhammad Akhlaq (31), Abdul Samad (25), and Mubasir Khan (21) provided valuable cameos as Gold surpassed the 300-run mark for the first time in the tournament’s knockout stages.
For the Greens, Faheem Ashraf, Shadab Khan, and Naseem Shah picked up two wickets each, but their efforts felt like trying to stem a tidal wave.
The chase and the collapse
The Greens’ response began with purpose. Fakhar Zaman, the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 260 runs and winner of the Best Batter award, fell for 31, but Saad Baig (67 off 51) and Omair Bin Yousuf (44 off 50) combined for a brisk 90-run stand that had the Greens’ fans dreaming of a successful chase.
At 143 for 1 in the 21st over, the Greens were cruising. The required rate was well within reach. But then came the twist that defines great tournaments.
Shaheen’s masterclass
Razaullah broke the partnership by dismissing Omair, and Faisal Akram pinned Saad Baig in the 22nd over. Then Shaheen took over. First came Farhan Yousuf, then Shadab Khan and Mohammad Suleman in the same over—the 27th—reducing the Greens to 167 for 6.
A brief resistance from Faheem Ashraf (38 not out) and Naseem Shah (31) added 61 threatening runs, but Shaheen returned in the 36th over to break the stand. And then, in the 38th over, with the stadium on its feet, he produced the knockout blow: three wickets in three balls—Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, and Mohammad Hasnain—completing a hat-trick and sealing the most memorable victory of the tournament.
The Greens were bowled out for 239 in 37.3 overs, falling 101 runs short.
Tournament review: A month of high drama
The National Champions Cup, played entirely at the Multan Cricket Stadium over eight days, delivered on every promise. It was a tournament that showcased Pakistan’s rich cricketing talent, provided a platform for emerging stars, and offered a glimpse into the future of the national team.
Pakistan Greens’ dominance turned to dust
Shadab Khan’s Rivaj Pakistan Greens entered the final as the overwhelming favorites, having won all three of their league-stage matches—including a 128-run drubbing of Gold—and finishing at the top of the table. Their march to the final was authoritative:
– August 11: Greens beat Whites by five wickets, powered by Fakhar Zaman’s 76-ball century (123 off 104).
– August 14: Greens crushed Gold by 128 runs, with Fakhar scoring his second consecutive century (115) and Hasnain taking 3 for 32.
– August 15: Greens annihilated Blues by 192 runs, with Mohammad Suleman’s unbeaten 101 and Saad Baig’s 77 leading the charge.
But in the final, with the trophy in sight, the Greens’ batting imploded against the brilliance of one man. It was a harsh lesson in how quickly momentum can shift in cricket.
Pakistan Gold’s rocky road to glory
Gold’s journey to the final was far from straightforward. They lost their opening two matches—to Blues by six wickets and to Greens by 128 runs—and looked down and out. But cricket is a game of fine margins, and Gold’s 128-run defeat to Greens turned out to be less damaging than Whites’ six-run loss to Blues, thanks to a superior net run rate.
On August 16, Gold faced a must-win situation against Pakistan Whites. They needed not just to win but to win big. They did exactly that, chasing down 173 in 28 overs—25 balls ahead of the required equation—to leapfrog Whites and Blues on net run rate. Haider Ali’s unbeaten 69 and Shaheen’s 3 for 26 were the catalysts.
Blues and Whites: The nearly teams
Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Whites both finished with two points from three matches but were edged out on net run rate by Gold. Blues’ campaign began with a convincing six-wicket win over Gold, powered by Sahibzada Farhan’s 102 and Hasan Ali’s 4 for 32. But defeats to Whites (by six runs) and Greens (by 192 runs) ended their hopes.
Whites, too, had their moments. Shahzaib Khan’s 76 and Hasan Nawaz’s 56 lit up the opening match against Greens, and their nervy six-run win over Blues—defending 245 behind Wasim Jnr’s maiden five-wicket haul and Dahani’s 4 for 43—was a classic. But they lost to Gold when it mattered most.
Individual brilliance
Fakhar Zaman emerged as the tournament’s best batter and player of the tournament, amassing 260 runs from just two innings—both centuries. His 123 off 104 and 115 off 105 were masterclasses in aggressive yet calculated batting.
Shaheen Shah Afridi was the best bowler with 13 wickets, including his 7 for 36 in the final and 3 for 47 against Greens. His final performance will be remembered as one of the great List A spells in Pakistan’s domestic history.
Saad Baig was the best wicketkeeper, with 170 runs and five dismissals, showcasing his dual skills behind and in front of the stumps.
Key takeaways
- The quality of emerging talent: Shamyl Hussain, Saad Khan, and Mohammad Suleman showed that Pakistan’s batting pipeline is healthy. Their centuries under pressure were a testament to the depth in domestic cricket.
- Shaheen’s leadership: The Pakistan ODI captain led from the front, not just with the ball but also in marshaling his troops through a difficult tournament. His final performance was a captain’s knock—with the ball.
- The need for more such Tournaments: The National Champions Cup served its purpose as a preparatory event for the ODI World Cup. It allowed players to acclimatize to conditions, build combinations, and test their mettle against quality opposition.
- The importance of net run rate: Gold’s qualification on net run rate after finishing equal on points with Whites and Blues was a reminder that every ball matters in a round-robin format.
Conclusion
The Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 will be remembered as the tournament where Shaheen Shah Afridi announced, in no uncertain terms, that he is ready to lead Pakistan’s charge on the global stage. It was a tournament of centuries, collapses, and a hat-trick that will be talked about for years.
For the Greens, defeat in the final was a bitter pill to swallow after three comprehensive wins. But they can take heart from their performances, particularly from Fakhar Zaman’s brilliance and the emergence of Saad Baig and Mohammad Suleman.
For Pakistan cricket, the tournament was a resounding success. The standards were high, the competition was fierce, and the future looks bright. If the performances in Multan are any indication, the national team is in good hands.
Final Standings:
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | NRR |
| 1 | Pakistan Greens | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | +1.87 |
| 2 | Pakistan Gold | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.47 |
| 3 | Pakistan Whites | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.50 |
| 4 | Pakistan Blues | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | -0.71 |
Tournament Awards:
| Award | Winner |
| Champions | Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold |
| Runners-up | Rivaj Pakistan Greens |
| Best Batter & Player of the Tournament | Fakhar Zaman (260 runs) |
| Best Bowler | Shaheen Shah Afridi (13 wickets) |
| Best Wicketkeeper | Saad Baig (170 runs, 5 dismissals) |
| Player of the Final | Shaheen Shah Afridi (7-36) |
