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LAHORE: A clinical bowling performance led by Arshad Iqbal, followed by Shahzaib Khan’s unbeaten half-century, powered Abbottabad Region to victory over Karachi Whites in the National T20 Cup 2026 final here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.
The National T20 Cup final was rescheduled following the group stage, and semi-finals took place from 7th March to 17th March in Peshawar.
Abbottabad chased down a mere target of 119 inside 13 overs, losing only one wicket in the process.
Shahzaib Khan and Afaq Khan laid a 62-run partnership in 7.2 overs. The former played the core aggressor role and capitalized on the fielding restrictions.
Soon after powerplay, fast bowler Rizwanullah provided Karachi’s first breakthrough in the form of Afaq’s wicket. He made 13 off 17 with the help of a boundary. However, this was the only wicket to fall in the composed run chase from Abbottabad.
Kamran Ghulam then joined Shahzaib at the crease, forging an unbeaten 58-run stand. The pair looked solid and never allowed Karachi bowlers to make a comeback. Right-hander Kamran in particular did the bulk of the scoring while Shahzaib reached his fifty in the process.
Eventually, Abbottabad hit the winning runs on the fifth ball of the 14th over. Kamran remained not out on 45 off 26 balls, hitting three sixes and three fours. Shahzaib made an unbeaten 54 off 41 balls, including four maximums and three fours.
For Karachi Whites, Rizwanullah remained the solitary wicket-taker.
Earlier, Karachi Whites’ innings folded on 118 in 18.3 overs after being put into bat, as Abbottabad Region’s bowlers, led by pacer Arshad Iqbal, effectively curtailed their batting-heavy opponents.
Abdullah Fazal and Saud Shakeel could only add 20 for the first wicket partnership, with Iqbal cleaning up the former to lay the first blood. The southpaw, who recently made his Test debut for Pakistan, managed only six.
Soon after, Mohammad Wasim Jr. struck to send back youngster Haroon Arshad (13 off 10, 4s 3). With quick wickets, it was expected that the senior duo of Saud Shakeel and Shan Masood would arrest the slide and steady the innings.
But the slide continued with skipper Shakeel (17 off 18), the next man going back to the pavilion in the sixth over. Saifullah Bangash (6) and Shan Masood (12) could not trouble the scorers much. Consequently, Karachi Whites’ wickets continued to tumble as they slipped to 77-6 at the halfway mark of the innings.
Saqib Khan remained the top-scorer, scoring 22 off 22, including two fours and a six, but none of the batters managed to convert their starts as Abbottabad’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings.
For Abbottabad Region, Arshad Iqbal picked up three wickets. Shadab Khan, Shahab Khan, and Razaullah picked two each.
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