The Multan Cricket Stadium has turned into a battleground of high-stakes cricket as the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026/27 gets underway. Designed as the ultimate testing ground for Pakistan’s white-ball stars ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, the tournament has already delivered four high-octane matches that have kept cricket fans on the edge of their seats.
The tournament kicked off with a bang in the opening fixture, where Pakistan Greens locked horns with Pakistan Whites. The match belonged entirely to Fakhar Zaman, who announced his thunderous return to form with a spectacular 123-run knock. Despite brilliant bowling displays from the Whites’ pace duo, Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Shahnawaz Dahani, the Greens managed to hold their nerve and secure a thrilling victory.
The excitement doubled in the second clash between Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold. The Blues’ opener Sahibzada Farhan anchored the chase with a flawless century, while their bowling attack dismantled the Gold line-up. Spin-wizard Sufyan Muqeem and veteran pacer Hasan Ali ripped through the opposition, taking 4 wickets each to guide the Blues to a comfortable 6-wicket win. However, it was a costly match for Shaheen Afridi’s Gold team, as senior spinner Mohammad Nawaz suffered a fractured finger while fielding, ruling him out of the tournament.
The drama intensified in the third game, where Pakistan Whites bounced back to edge past Pakistan Blues by a mere 6 runs in a nail-biting finish. The fourth match saw the resurgence of the Fakhar Zaman show. The explosive left-hander smashed his second consecutive century (115 runs) against Pakistan Gold. Supported by Shadab Khan’s quick-fire 61, the Greens posted a massive total and crushed the Gold side by 128 runs.
As the tournament heads into its crucial business end, Pakistan Greens sit comfortably at the top of the table with 4 points. Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi’s Pakistan Gold has been officially knocked out after two straight losses. With the Pakistan Cricket Board offering free entry, the Multan crowd continues to fill the stadium, making this domestic extravaganza a massive success.
