Abbottabad clinched the National T20 Cup 2026 title after defeating Karachi Whites by nine wickets in a one-sided final at Gaddafi Stadium.
The National T20 Cup final was initially scheduled to be played at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on March 19, but persistent rain and a waterlogged outfield forced its postponement. The match was later moved to a new venue.
Set a modest target of 119, Abbottabad made light work of the chase and reached the total in 13.5 overs. Shahzaib Khan anchored the innings with an unbeaten half-century, while Kamran Ghulam played an attacking hand from the other end.
Abbottabad suffered their only setback when opener Afaq Khan was dismissed for 13 off 17 balls, including one four. Shahzaib then carried the chase with an unbeaten 54 off 41 deliveries, hitting three fours and four sixes.
Kamran provided strong support, scoring 45 not out from just 26 balls with three fours and three sixes, as Abbottabad sealed a comfortable title-winning victory.
Earlier, Karachi Whites were bowled out for 118 in 18.3 overs after a disciplined bowling display from Abbottabad.
Karachi struggled to build momentum throughout the innings as wickets fell at regular intervals. Only one batter crossed the 20-run mark, with tail-ender Saqib Khan top-scoring with 22 off 22 balls, including two fours and a six.
Captain Saud Shakeel made 17 off 18 deliveries with two boundaries before falling to Shahab Khan, while Abdullah Fazal was bowled by Arshad Iqbal for six off four balls.
Mohammad Wasim and Arshad Iqbal kept the pressure on Karachi with quick wickets. Haroon Arshad scored 13, Shan Masood made 16, and Saifullah Bangash added six before being removed by Razaullah.
Arshad picked up his third wicket by dismissing Khawaja Nafay for 10 off 14 balls. Abbottabad captain Shadab Khan also made an immediate impact, removing Danish Aziz for six off 14 deliveries.
Razaullah then struck again to dismiss Mohammad Umer for three, before Shadab ended Saqib’s resistance to claim his second wicket.
Shahab Khan completed Karachi’s innings by dismissing Abrar Ahmed for seven, capping off a dominant all-round performance from Abbottabad in the final.
