PTV Crowned Champions of President’s Trophy

In a thrilling encounter at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Amad Butt’s Pakistan Television (PTV) defeated State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) by three wickets to claim the President’s Trophy Grade-I title on Friday night. This triumph also marked a milestone for Butt’s leadership as his side outlasted the competition to lift the prestigious trophy.

When play resumed on the fourth day in a historic Pink-ball match, PTV were 69 for 1, requiring another 84 runs to win. Despite losing six wickets during the chase, PTV reached their target in the 41st over of their pursuit. Left-hander Shamyl Hussain, unbeaten on 44 at the close of Day 3, went on to score a half-century before falling for 58 off 67 balls.

SBP’s left-arm spinner Kashif Bhatti was the standout bowler, taking four wickets for 58 runs in 13.1 overs. He eventually finished the match with seven wickets, a commendable effort despite his side’s defeat.

The Player of the Match was Muhammad Shahzad, who put in a brilliant all-round performance. Shahzad first made his mark with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 29 runs, including a sensational hat-trick. He then backed up his efforts with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 125 in the second innings to guide PTV across the line.

Amad Butt’s leadership was instrumental in PTV’s success, marking a double achievement in the domestic season. Earlier, Butt had led Sialkot to victory in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25, and now, he adds the President’s Trophy with PTV to his growing list of accomplishments.

Match Summary:

With this victory, PTV completes a remarkable season, setting a new standard for success in Pakistan’s domestic cricket.