LAHORE – Karachi Whites and Fais­alabad are all set to lock horns in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2023-24 final here at Gad­dafi Stadium from today (October 22) to October 26. 

Both sides will be doing their best to win the first-class title as since the res­toration of the 2014 Paki­stan Cricket Board (PCB) constitution, it is the first premier tournament com­pleted. Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team who led them to the 2017 Champions Trophy tri­umph in England, Sarfaraz Ahmed is leading Whites while Faisalabad is led by all-rounder Faheem Ashraf. 

The final between Fais­alabad and Karachi is the one to watch as both sides are led by experienced in­ternational cricketers. Fa­heem represented Pakistan in 16 Tests and has played 73 first-class matches while Sarfaraz played 53 Tests for the Green Shirts and also played 173 first-class matches. 

Karachi also has experi­enced Asad Shafiq, who has scored 532 runs in seven matches in the ongoing Qea Trophy season with two centuries and as many fifties. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz has 579 runs with two tons and three half-centuries. 

“The entire team is fo­cused on winning the final. Being on top of the table has given us confidence and momentum which we will use to our advantage,” Faheem told PCB. “We have had some extraordinary performances, individually and as a team. I have faith in the team, going into the final, as I know all the play­ers will give their best.” 

Sarfaraz also opened up ahead of the most awaited final and said that the team played great cricket and the focus is on bagging the title. “We have played some good cricket throughout the tournament and have taken it one game at a time. We are focused on securing the title so we will continue to play according to what has worked for us in the tourna­ment so far,” Sarfaraz added. 

“Having a mix of expe­rienced players like Asad Shafiq, Shan Masood and Khurram Manzoor and youngsters like Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub and Ghulam Mudassar among others really helps the combination of the team. It has favoured our posi­tive approach so far.”