2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy
In this article, 2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be addressed with the purpose of analyzing its importance and relevance today. 2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy has been the subject of numerous studies and debates over the years, demonstrating its impact in different areas of society. Likewise, this topic has given rise to conflicting opinions among experts and specialists, which makes it necessary to deepen its study and understanding. Through a detailed analysis, different approaches and perspectives around 2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be explored, in order to provide a comprehensive view of its meaning and impact in the current context.
| Dates | 26 October 2015 – 7 January 2016 |
|---|---|
| Administrator | Pakistan Cricket Board |
| Cricket format | First-class |
| Tournament format(s) | Two round-robin group stages and final |
| Host |  Pakistan |
| Champions | SNGPL (3rd title) |
| Participants | 16 |
| Matches | 62 |
| Most runs | Asif Zakir (791) |
| Most wickets | Mohammad Abbas (61) |
| Official website | www.pcb.com.pk |
The 2015–16 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was the 58th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the premier domestic first-class cricket competition in Pakistan. It was contested by 16 teams representing eight regional associations and eight departments.[a][1]
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) restructured the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy just one season after implementing the previous changes. The number of teams was reduced from 26 to 16 with 12 automatic qualifiers and four additional teams gaining entry via two new pre-qualifying competitions, one for regions and the other for departments. The competition proper was contested via two round-robin group stages, with a final to determine the winner.[1][2] Among the qualifiers was Federally Administered Tribal Areas, which competed in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class competition for the first time.[3]
Following the completion of the preliminary group stages, six departments (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited, National Bank of Pakistan, Water and Power Development Authority, United Bank Limited, Khan Research Laboratories and Sui Southern Gas Corporation) and two regions (Karachi Whites and Lahore Blues) qualified for the Super Eight stage of the competition.[4] United Bank Limited and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited topped the Super Eight groups to advance to the final, where Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won by 6 wickets to defend their title.[5]
Structure and competition format
Despite having unveiled a revised format in 2015 which was intended to last five seasons, the PCB decided to overhaul the structure after just one season. The number of teams was reduced from 26 down to 16, made up of eight regional associations and eight departments; six of each were automatically qualified based on their record in 2014–15, and the remainder had to earn their place through a corresponding qualifying tournament, although the bottom teams from 2014–15 (Quetta and Pakistan Television) were not eligible as they were relegated directly to Grade II cricket.[1]
The sixteen teams were divided into two groups, with four regions and four departments in each. After a round-robin of matches, the top four teams in each group advanced to a second group stage, called the "Super Eight", with four teams in each group. After a further round-robin, the top team in each group advanced to the final.[1]
Qualifying
Two qualifying competitions were held, one for regional associations and one for departments. Making it through from the regional competition were Federally Administered Tribal Areas, advancing to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy first-class competition for the first time,[3] and Lahore Blues. Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) and Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) qualified from the departments. Under the previous system, Karachi Port Trust had been set to return to first-class cricket, having won the Patron's Trophy Grade II the previous season but following the restructuring, they missed out in the qualifying tournament.[2]
Group stage
Tables
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(Q) The top four teams in each group advanced to the Super Eight stage
- Win by an innings = 10 points
- Win having led on first innings = 9 points
- Win having tied or trailed on first innings = 6 points
- Tie having led on first innings = 5 points
- Draw having led on first innings = 3 points
- Draw having tied on first innings, or tie having trailed on first innings = 2 points
- Draw with no result on first innings, or abandoned without a ball bowled = 1 point
- Loss, or draw having trailed on first innings = 0 points
Results
Pool A
Round 1
26–29 October 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
26–29 October 2015
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- Port Qasim Authority won the toss and elected to field.
- Mohammad Sohail (Hyderabad) made his first-class debut.
26–29 October 2015
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- Sui Southern Gas Corporation won the toss and elected to field.
- Tayyab Tahir (Lahore Blues) made his first-class debut.
Round 2
2–5 November 2015
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58/0 (13 overs)
Sharjeel Khan 47* (50) |
- Peshawar won the toss and elected to field.
- Mohammad Mohsin and Shah Faisal (Peshawar) made their first-class debuts.
2–5 November 2015
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70 (23.5 overs) (f/o)
Faisal Athar 31* (50) |
- Sui Southern Gas Corporation won the toss and elected to bat.
Round 3
9–12 November 2015
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- Port Qasim Authority won the toss and elected to field.
- Munir-ur-Rehman (Islamabad) made his first-class debut.
Round 4
16–19 November 2015
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- Lahore Blues won the toss and elected to field.
- Daniyal Zahid and Mohsin Nadeem (Lahore Blues) both made their first-class debuts.
16–19 November 2015
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- Port Qasim Authority won the toss and elected to bat.
- Mehran Alam and Wasif Nawaz (Peshawar) made their first-class debuts.
- Taj Wali (PQA) became the first bowler in more than 20 years to take four wickets in four balls in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.[6]
Round 5
23–26 November 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
- Taimur Sultan (Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited) made his first-class debut.
Round 6
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Islamabad won the toss and elected to field.
- Haris Nazar (Lahore Blues) made his first-class debut.
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
- Faizan Khan (Sui Southern Gas Corporation) made his first-class debut.
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Port Qasim Authority won the toss and elected to field.
- Noor Wali, Waqar Ahmed (Port Qasim Authority) and Sameen Gul (United Bank Limited) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 7
7–10 December 2015
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- Peshawar won the toss and elected to field.
- No play was possible on days 3 and 4.
7–10 December 2015
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- Port Qasim Authority won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4.
7–10 December 2015
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- United Bank Limited won the toss and elected to bat.
- No play was possible on day 4.
Pool B
Round 1
26–29 October 2015
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- National Bank of Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.
- Anas Mahmood, Kamil Akram, Sajid Watto and Shuja Haider (Lahore Whites) all made their first-class debuts.
26–29 October 2015
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- Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to field.
- Haris Ali, Jaahid Ali and Saud Shakeel (Karachi Whites) all made their first-class debuts.
26–29 October 2015
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- Federally Administered Tribal Areas won the toss and elected to field.
- Haroon Sadaqat, Irfanullah Shah, Khushdil Shah, Liaqat Ali and Mohammad Sarwar (Federally Administered Tribal Areas); Amad Butt (Habib Bank Limited) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 2
2–5 November 2015
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- Karachi Whites won the toss and elected to field.
- Abdullah Muqaddam (Karachi Whites) made his first-class debut.
2–5 November 2015
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- National Bank of Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.
- Razaullah Wazir (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) made his first-class debut.
2–5 November 2015
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- Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to field.
2–5 November 2015
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77 (13.3 overs)
Shoaib Ahmed 32* (21) |
- Khan Research Laboratories won the toss and elected to field.
- Jamil Khan, Mohammad Waqas and Saif-ur-Rehman (Lahore Whites) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 3
9–12 November 2015
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- National Bank of Pakistan won the toss and elected to field.
- Ghulam Mudassar and Salman Zaib (Karachi Whites) made their first-class debuts.
9–12 November 2015
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- Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to field.
9–12 November 2015
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34/1 (9.4 overs)
Naved Malik 30* (28) |
- Habib Bank Limited won the toss and elected to field.
9–12 November 2015
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161/0 (37 overs)
Zain Abbas 79* (112) |
- Khan Research Laboratories won the toss and elected to field.
- Irfanullah, Mohammad Kashif and Samar Gul (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 4
16–19 November 2015
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- Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to bat.
- Ibraheem Gul, Majid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Nisar Khan and Sohrab Khan (Federally Administered Tribal Areas) all made their first-class debuts.
Round 5
Round 6
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Lahore Whites won the toss and elected to field.
- Mohammad Imran (Lahore Whites) made his first-class debut.
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Rawalpindi won the toss and elected to bat.
- This was FATA's maiden win in first-class cricket.[7]
30 November–3 December 2015
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- Khan Research Laboratories won the toss and elected to field.
Round 7
7–10 December 2015
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- Federally Administered Tribal Areas won the toss and elected to field.
- Sheraz Ali (Karachi Whites) made his first-class debut.
Super Eight stage
Tables
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(Q) The top team in each group advanced to the final
- Win by an innings = 10 points
- Win having led on first innings = 9 points
- Win having tied or trailed on first innings = 6 points
- Tie having led on first innings = 5 points
- Draw having led on first innings = 3 points
- Draw having tied on first innings, or tie having trailed on first innings = 2 points
- Draw with no result on first innings, or abandoned without a ball bowled = 1 point
- Loss, or draw having trailed on first innings = 0 points
Results
Group 1
14–17 December 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
20–23 December 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
28–31 December 2015
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- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited won the toss and elected to field.
Group 2
Final
3–7 January 2016
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- United Bank Limited won the toss and elected to bat.
- This was the third time the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was a day-night game.
- Bilawal Bhatti recorded his best figures in first-class cricket with 8 for 56, and his best overall match figures, with 11 for 95.[8]
Notes
- ^ The top level of domestic cricket in Pakistan was historically played by teams representing regional cricket associations and departments, which were owned and run by corporations, institutions or government departments.
References
- ^ a b c d Farooq, Umar (14 July 2015). "PCB revamps Quaid-e-Azam structure". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- ^ a b Khan, Khalid H. (22 October 2015). "PCB unveils schedule of revamped Quaid Trophy". Dawn. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
- ^ a b "FATA make it to Pakistan's first-class tournament". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Port Qasim relegated from QEA Trophy". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ "SNGPL defend title after Bhatti's 11, Misbah's twin fifties". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ "Taj Wali achieves rare four-in-four feat". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Sports Media. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
- ^ "FATA's first ever win, and another Butt-Asif controversy". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ "SNGPL edge ahead after Bhatti eight-for". ESPNCricinfo. 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.