Manzoor, Maqsood hail competition level of Pakistan Cup

Kamran Akmal-led Federal Areas beat K-P by five wickets in final on Sunday

KARACHI: Top players have hailed the competition level in the Pakistan Cup which concluded on Sunday as Federal Areas clinched the title by beating K-P in the final by five wickets.

Left-arm pacer Usman Khan Shinwari’s three wickets helped Federal Areas register a win which cemented their authority in the tournament where they remained unbeaten.

Chasing 252 in the final, Federal Areas got over the line in the 41st over, courtesy a 79-run partnership between Agha Salman (60) and Saad Nasim (51).

Top scorer of the tournament, Khurram Manzoor, while talking to The Express Tribune, revealed that conditions were not easy for the batsmen. “It was not easy for the batsman to score in these conditions and also against the top bowlers of Pakistan,” he said. “A batsman had to keep his focus on the ball and on the plan to make his team win.”

He added: “I am glad that I ended with being the top scorer of the tournament but at the same time I am sad to not see my team on the Champions board. If we had won the final, the celebrations would have been much bigger.”

Manzoor went on the further expressed disappointment for not being able to score much in the final which was his aim at the start of the tournament.

“We all are players from different cities and we all are here to not only score big for our personal record but also to make our team win and this is the best part of the format of this tournament,” he said. “I have been training hard for making a comeback in the team, which was visible through my performances.”

Talking about his fitness level, the Karachi-born batsman said: “The fitness is seen in the field and I have shown what I am capable of doing. The stats and on-field performance is in front of everyone and I will keep on doing till i get the reward.”

Meanwhile, tournament’s top wicket-taker Waqas Maqsood, who claimed 14 scalps in five matches told The Express Tribune that he, like Manzoor, have found this competition tough.

“We all have mixed players and all team are equally made so that helps in raising the level of competition,” said Maqsood. “Every team has good bowlers and batsmen too. To achieve my goal, my plan was to bowl according to the field set. Finishing on top is always a pleasure especially when you have so many good international bowlers in the competition as well.”