news-engine

Pakistan Greens Face Pakistan Gold in National Champions Cup Final Shadab Khan-led Rivaj Pakistan Greens will look to complete an unbeaten campaign when they face Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Sparco Pakistan Gold in the final of the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 at Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Pakistan Greens won all three of their league-stage matches to qualify for the final. Pakistan Gold secured their place with a commanding victory over UOL Pakistan Whites on Sunday, improving their net run rate sufficiently to progress. Greens dominated the previous meeting between the finalists, recording a 128-run victory after Fakhar Zaman scored a century and Mohammad Hasnain claimed three wickets. Shamyl Hussain provided Gold’s main resistance with a rapid half-century, while Shaheen and Abdul Subhan took three wickets apiece. Fakhar will once again be the key batter for Gold to contain. He leads the tournament’s run-scoring charts with 238 runs from two innings, having registered centuries in both appearances from a combined 209 deliveries. Farhan Yousuf, Omair Yousuf and captain Shadab provide further batting threats for Greens. The unbeaten side will also welcome back Naseem Shah after he was rested for their final league match. Naseem has taken four wickets across his two appearances. Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Hasnain complete a balanced pace attack, supported by Shadab’s leg-spin and Mehran Mumtaz’s left-arm spin. Gold will need another positive start from Shamyl, while Haider Ali and Saad Khan will aim to reproduce the decisive partnership they shared during the must-win game against Whites. Kamran Ghulam also offers experience and stability through the middle overs. Abdul Samad, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah provide power in the lower order. With the ball, Gold will look to Shaheen after his Player of the Match-winning three-wicket performance in their previous game. Razaullah’s pace and Faisal Akram’s left-arm wrist-spin will provide additional options. The final will also feature a tactical contest between Pakistan Gold head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and Pakistan Greens coach Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, who spent considerable time together during their playing and coaching careers. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Captain Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold “The first two games were not in favour but we then sensed an opportunity to qualify and had planned to bowl first to make the most of it. Our players put in a lot of effort against Whites. The Greens are playing really well and Fakhar’s batting has made matches one-sided. “The tournament has been very good and we have seen a couple of close games as well. It has helped us gauge the fitness of players as well. The tournament has also served its purpose of helping us test out pool of players as part of the ODI World Cup preparations.” Shadab Khan, Captain Rivaj Pakistan Greens “Our attitude in the field has been really good and I feel our team had enough players who knew the local conditions well and also built on the work done in the recent NCA white-ball camp. Whole team has put in a great effort and for me they all standout. “We will try to keep things simple in tomorrow’s final while also knowing that a team like Gold that got into the final through a small opportunity can be dangerous. I feel my bowling is also improving gradually and with the bat I try to stand up whenever the team needs me.” Pakistan Greens: Shadab Khan (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Farhan Yousuf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saad Baig (wicket-keeper) and Sameer Minhas Reserves: Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Amir Khan and Mohammad Suleman Pakistan Gold: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abdul Subhan, Faisal Akram, Haider Ali, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Akhlaq (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Imran, Saad Khan and Shamyl Hussain Reserves: Razaullah, Muhammad Imran Jnr and Khawaja Muhammad Nafay Tournament results: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium; Final to begin at 3pm) 11 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 12 August – Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets 13 August –Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs 14 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs 15 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs 16 August – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 18 August – Final – Pakistan Gold v Pakistan Greens © Cricket World 2026