Quaid Trophy: Run-machine Akbar drives Blues closer to title

Allrounder scores unbeaten 176 to take run-tally to 975.

KARACHI: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy top-scorer Akbarur Rehman closed in on his second double century of the tournament, helping Karachi Blues take a commanding 172-run first-innings lead against Sialkot in the final being played at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

The third day of the five-day match belonged to Akbar, who remained undefeated after an impressive 176-run knock, which took the Blues to 401 for seven after they resumed play at a modest 89 for two.

The 29-year-old, who represents Pakistan Cricket Club and KESC, took 266 balls for his impressive innings hitting a six and 24 strikes to the fence despite wickets tumbling at the other end.

He was involved in an unbeaten 103-run eighth-wicket stand with Azam Hussain (55*). Bilawal Bhatti and Ali Khan took two wickets apiece.

Akbar, who has been touted as an allrounder with the capability to represent Pakistan, moved way ahead in the batting charts for the tournament with 975 runs – with an average of 97.40 and a best innings of 225 – ahead of his closest rival Rizwan Ahmed, who is second with 815 runs.



Akbar credited his stint in England for his outstanding performance where he guided Spring View Cricket Club to the one-day title in the Bolton Association League. He was the top-scorer with 1,250 runs in 24 matches and also had 47 wickets to his name.

“The experience I gained in England helped me a lot in this first-class season,” Akbar told The Express Tribune.

“When I went to England, my club had finished 12th in the league and then I played a major role to help them clinch the title which boosted my confidence. It’s great that I’m close to winning another title with Karachi Blues and have played an important role in the campaign.”

Akbar, who bowls leg spin and medium pace, has also taken 20 wickets and stressed it was the confidence given to him by stand-in skipper Khurram Manzoor and coach Azam Khan that lifted him.

“Throughout the campaign both Manzoor and Azam backed me to do well stressing that I was the ‘lion of the team’. That really pushed me to do something for the team.

“In addition, I was also fired up by my exclusion from the Karachi teams in the T20 tournament. I had two ways to choose – either quit or to work relentlessly – to achieve my dream of playing for Pakistan and I chose the second option.  Hopefully, I’ll get my opportunity soon in the future.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 27^th, 2013.