LAHORE – For the first time in the history of the Pakistan domestic cricket the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will be played under lights and with colored cricket balls.
The new playing format is expected to herald a major change in the domestic cricket structure as it would be the first time that day and night cricket will be used in the longer version of the game.
HBL and PIA, two of the most successful domestic cricket teams, will fight for honors in the final starting from Jan 13 to 17 at the National Cricket Stadium.
It is also hoped that the day night game will attract large crowds and will help attract heightened interest in the longer version of the domestic game.
Faysal Bank will be sponsoring the event which will be their second major tournament after the hugely successful Faysal Bank T20 tournament held in Lahore in October last year.
The match will start at 1400 with break at 1600 and the game will resume after 40 minutes and there will be another break at 1840 for 10 minutes. Umpires for the match will be Riazuddin and Zamir Haider while TV Umpire is Khalid Mahmood Sr, Reserve Umpire Kamal Marchant, Referee Anwar Khan and Scorer Imran Ali.
The winning team will be awarded Rs.10,00,000 with the runner-up getting Rs 500, 000 while the man of the final match, best batsman, bowler, fielder and wicket keeper will be given Rs 50,000 each.
PCB Chairman Ijaz Butt said: “This year’s Quaid-i-Azam Trophy final will be a historic moment in Pakistan domestic cricket history. For the first time the use of colored cricket balls and the concept of a five-day game under lights will be given a very high profile.”
