There was an endless debate before the commencement of Pakistan’s ongoing domestic season, mainly regarding the entrance of two teams from comparatively bigger regions, Karachi and Lahore. But the experience of having a format of playing bottom-line teams in qualifying round proved to be an ideal one.

The format provided quality and quantity both, without spoiling the exciting nature of T20 competitions and without depriving ‘smaller regions’ of their chance of playing the premier T20 tournament.

The qualifying round, as had been expected, was a smooth sail for star-studded Karachi Blues but Lahore Blues were stunned by Bahawalpur region in race to the main round.

Then came the action packed main round of the tournament.

After some tremendous T20 encounters in group stages, Multan and Sialkot from Group A and Peshawar and Karachi Blues from Group ‘B’ qualified for the semi-finals.

In the first semi-final, Karachi Blues ousted Multan region by 8 runs, thanks to a captain’s knock by Sarfaraz Ahmed and a brilliant half-century by Fawad Alam. In the second, Peshawar knocked out favourites Sialkot.

And in the final match, passion overpowered experience, once again as Peshawar stunned star-studded Karachi Blues to defend their title.

Another defeat in the final may get Karachi Blues the label of "South Africa of Pakistan’s domestic Cricket", but it strengthened the view that a team doesn’t need star players to win tournaments. Tournaments are won by players’ determination and dedication. The tournament final was Peshawar’s 13th consecutive successful chase in T20s, which should provide some relief to those who are concerned about Pakistan’s batting problems, especially while batting second.

Players like Musaddiq Ahmed, Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan are good prospects for future.

Most of the matches, due to batting-friendly wickets, proved to be high-scoring but nail-biting encounters which were a perfect treat for cricket fans. A Hat-trick by Imran Khan Junior, a five-wicket haul by Khalid Usman, and centuries by Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal, Fakhar Zaman and Mukhtar Ahmed were some of the highlights of the tournament.

There were a total of 47 matches, including the final. A total of 390 sixes and 1,430 fours were hit during the tournament.

Peshawar’s Iftikhar Ahmed led the list of players hitting most sixes by hitting 15 sixes in the tournament.

A total of 76 half-centuries and four centuries were scored. Faisal Mubashir of Bahawalpur was the top scorer of the tournament with 357 runs in nine innings, followed by Fawad Alam of Karachi Blues with 339 runs in nine innings and Khalid Latif with 339 runs in 11 innings.

Peshawar’s Imran Khan took 16 wickets at an average of 12.12 in seven matches to stand as the leading wicket taker of the tournament. Rumman Raees of Karachi also took 16 wickets, but in 11 games.

The highest total of the tournament was scored by Rawalpindi Region. They scored 205/3 against Karachi Whites.

The highest individual score in the tournament was posted by Sialkot’s Mukhtar Ahmed, who scored 123 runs against Karachi Whites. It is the highest individual score in T20s by any Pakistani batsman.

Khalid Usman’s (Abbottabad) five for 26 in four overs against Lahore Whites was the best from a bowler.

Star performances:

MUKHTAR AHMED’s 123, Sialkot vs Karachi Whites. Mukhtar scored 123 off 67 balls. This memorable innings included 18 fours and 3 sixes.

IMRAN KHAN JUNIOR’s 4/24, Peshawar vs Karachi Blues. With Sarfaraz Ahmed and Fawad Alam looking set to take Karachi’s score past 175 in the final over, came Imran Khan Junior, bowled a couple of dot balls and sent three batsmen to pavilion on the next three deliveries to complete his hat-trick and restrict Karachi Blues to 156 for 7.

KHALID USMAN’S 5/26, Abbottabad vs Lahore Whites. Khalid dismissed Mohammad Hafeez, Hussain Talat, Saad Nasim, Aizaz Cheema and Mohammad Irfan.

SHARJEEL KHAN’S 91, Hyderabad vs Multan. After Multan had posted 186/4 in 20 overs, Hyderabad were looking for a big knock from one of their batsmen at Marghzar Cricket Ground of Islamabad. Opener Sharjeel Khan provided that. He didn’t let the experienced duo of Rahat Ali and Zulfiqar Babar stop Hyderabad’s run chase and scored 91 off only 45 deliveries, hitting four sixes and 13 fours. His innings helped Hyderabad chase a big total comfortably.

MUSADDIQ AHMED 57* off 18 balls, Peshawar vs Islamabad. Chasing a target of 182, Peshawar were 107/3 in 12.1 overs. Musaddiq Ahmed came, he saw and he conquered. Musaddiq scored 57 off just 18 balls, helping Peshawar chase the target with 15 balls remaining. He completed his half century in 17 balls which is the joint second fastest by any Pakistani.

Players like Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Bilal Asif, Imran Khan Junior, Mohammad Sarwar (FATA), Faisal Mubashir (Bahawalpur) and Ahsan Ali proved their mettle during the tournament and now it is selectors’ job to find the best of them and provide them some opportunities so that Pakistan can build an invincible squad for future.