SNGPL crowned President’s Trophy champions

Coach Basit Ali declares Misbah ‘the best captain’.

KARACHI: SNGPL, under the captaincy of Misbahul Haq, defeated HBL by 75 runs on the last day of the President’s Trophy final match to lift the inaugural title here at the National Stadium yesterday.

It was a wary HBL that took the field on day five, needing 160 runs with four wickets in hand. Although Imran Farhat made 49 with eight boundaries, his efforts went in vain as the team was bowled out for 253 in 80.1 overs. Muhammad Hafeez shone with two scalps to end up with three wickets in the innings and seven in the match.

SNGPL coach Basit Ali expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance and praised their collective effort.

“It was heartening to see everyone chipping in at the right times,” Basit told The Express Tribune. “Misbah proved himself and cemented his status as the best captain in the country at present. Furthermore, Hafeez’s knowledge was an added advantage for us because he understands the game well.”

Misbah was adjudged man of the match for playing an 85-run knock in the first-innings and received Rs 50,000.

The winners pocketed Rs 500,000 while HBL received Rs 250,000. Four individual prizes of Rs 50,000 were given to the top performers.

‘It was quality cricket despite some glitches’

HBL team consultant Abdur Raqib said while it was inevitable that one team had to lose, he feels that there had been some unfair decisions.

“Some decisions went against us in both innings which turned the course of the match,” said Raqib. “However, the quality of cricket was high throughout the tournament.”

He said he was pleased HBL gave Pakistan a potential cricketer in the shape of debutant Ehsan Adil and that Younis Khan’s captaincy was beneficial for the team.

“Misbah and Younus are two players who play domestic cricket with the same spirit as they perform in international matches.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2013.