Mohammad Rizwan's comeback stood out during day two of Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold’s opening round, as the keeper-batter stayed not out on 200 for Peshawar Blues against Faisalabad at Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. Facing 252 deliveries, he struck 35 boundaries plus a single six, offering a firm reply after a rocky spell that followed Pakistan’s weak Test campaign in England.
Abbottabad: how Peshawar built 503
Peshawar Blues began the session sitting on 306 for three and later ended their batting on 503 runs for the loss of four wickets inside 115.2 overs. Najab Khan, already past a hundred when play resumed, completed 133. Mohammad Haris added 70 not out from 69 deliveries, with nine boundaries and a pair of sixes, before the declaration came.
The knock was also only Rizwan’s second first-class score of 200 or more. Approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board to appear again in home competitions had cleared the path for this outing.
After England: selection cut and inquiry
He was one of seven squad members sent back after the Lord’s Test, the series’ second match. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is still examining tour-linked matters involving him. Across four England knocks he managed only 61 runs before the panel was reshaped.
Faisalabad reply and results elsewhere
Faisalabad shut the day at 118 for two after 35.2 overs. Paceman Mohammad Adnan removed both openers lbw — Faham-ul-Haq on 31 and Sameer Saqib on 25. Asim Ali Nasir, unbeaten on 35, and Atiq-ur-Rehman, unbeaten on 24, will continue when play resumes on Thursday.
At Islamabad’s Diamond Cricket Ground, Babar Azam made 28 while Lahore Whites were dismissed for 234 in 49.2 overs against Fata, who had totalled 362. Newcomer Fawad Arshad contributed 115 for Fata. Young seamer Hammad Aziz returned six for 97 for Lahore Whites. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Afaq Afridi each took three wickets for Fata, with Afaq dismissing Babar. Fata closed on 22 for one and already held a 128-run first-innings cushion.
In Rawalpindi at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Multan rose from 88 for five to 249 for seven after Islamabad’s 215. Imran Rafiq was unbeaten on 93 and Sharoon Siraj made 82; Musa Khan took three for 31. At the National Ground in Islamabad, Karachi Blues posted 280 for a 39-run first-innings edge over Sialkot Blues, who finished on 13 without loss. Mohammad Ghazi Ghori led Karachi with 88.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Lord’s (second Test): Rizwan was among seven players sent home from the England tour.
- England series: He ended with 61 runs from four innings before the squad overhaul.
- After PCB clearance: He rejoined domestic cricket in Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold.
- Day two, Abbottabad: He reached 200 not out as Peshawar Blues declared on 503 for four.
- Thursday: Faisalabad, 118 for two, resume with Asim Ali Nasir and Atiq-ur-Rehman batting.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Mohammad Rizwan England tour ke baad ghar wapas domestic cricket mein khel rahe hain. Abbottabad mein unhon ne 200 runs bina out hue banaye hain. Peshawar Blues is wajah se match mein mazboot position mein hain. Aam fans ke liye yeh ishara hai ke woh phir se runs bana rahe hain.
