Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) posted a massive 687 for seven declared but could not force victory against a determined Abbottabad Region side in the 26th match of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy at Rawalpindi (November 5-8, 2025). Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah scored a brilliant 206 off 257 balls with 24 fours and three sixes to anchor FATA’s innings. Despite forcing Abbottabad to follow on after bowling them out for 442, FATA ran out of time as Shahzaib Khan’s unbeaten second-innings century (100 not out) steered the visitors to safety at 165 for two when stumps were drawn on day four.

Match Scorecard

Team	First Innings	Second Innings	Result
FATA	687/7 declared (142.3 overs)	Did not bat	Match Drawn
Abbottabad	442 all out (135 overs)	165/2 (70.3 overs)	Match Drawn

Lead: FATA led by 245 runs after first innings

Top Performers

Player	Team	Role	Performance
Khushdil Shah	FATA	All-rounder	206 (257 balls, 24×4, 3×6) + 1/39 bowling
Salman Khan	FATA	Batsman	133 (159 balls, 27×4, 2×6)
Mohammad Farooq	FATA	Opener	105 (76 balls, 11×4, 9×6, SR: 138.15)
Asif Afridi	FATA	Captain/Bowler	7/127 in 56 overs (1st innings)
Shahzaib Khan	Abbottabad	Opener	167 (350 balls, 20×4, 2×6) + 100* (191 balls)
Khalid Usman	Abbottabad	All-rounder	53 (124 balls) + 1/71 bowling

Key Moments

• Day 1 – FATA’s Flying Start: Mohammad Farooq blazed to 105 off just 76 balls (strike rate 138.15) with nine sixes and 11 fours. He and Mohammad Usman (87) put on 169 for the first wicket before both fell to Shahab Khan.
• Day 1 – Monster Partnership: Khushdil Shah and Salman Khan added 204 runs for the third wicket. By stumps, FATA had raced to 460/3 with Khushdil on 108 and Mohammad Sarwar on 22.
• Day 2 – Khushdil’s Double Century: The Pakistan international reached his career-best 206 before being dismissed lbw by Aftab Ahmed. FATA declared at 687/7 in 142.3 overs.
• Day 2 – Abbottabad in Trouble: The visitors slumped to 113/4 by stumps with Shahzaib Khan fighting on 45 not out and Mohammad Suleman on 2.
• Day 3 – Shahzaib’s Resistance: The opener batted nearly a full day, facing 350 balls for his 167. Khalid Usman (53) and Shahab Khan (41) provided support as Abbottabad reached 424/8 at close of play.
• Day 4 – Asif’s Seven-For: FATA captain Asif Afridi wrapped up the tail to finish with magnificent figures of 7/127 in 56 overs. Abbottabad were all out for 442, still 245 runs behind.
• Day 4 – Follow-On Battle: Forced to bat again, Abbottabad lost Zain Ishaq for 8 but Shahzaib Khan dug in again. After Umair Badshah fell for 46, Shahzaib (100 not out off 191 balls) and captain Kamran Ghulam (8 not out) safely reached stumps at 165/2.

Match Analysis

FATA’s batting display was one for the record books. Three centurions in one innings showed the depth and quality of their batting line-up. Mohammad Farooq’s explosive 105 off 76 balls set the perfect platform, attacking from ball one with an incredible strike rate of 138.15. His innings included nine massive sixes, putting immediate pressure on the Abbottabad bowlers.

Khushdil Shah’s 206 was the backbone of the innings, lasting 257 balls and demonstrating his ability to shift gears when needed. His partnership of 204 with Salman Khan (133 off 159) took the game completely away from Abbottabad. Mohammad Sarwar’s quick-fire 57 at number five kept the momentum going, allowing captain Asif Afridi to declare at 687/7.

Abbottabad’s bowling attack struggled on a batting-friendly surface. Kamran Ghulam was the most successful bowler with 3/43 from 10 overs, while Shahab Khan took 2/137 from 27 overs. The seamers found little assistance, with the ball rarely moving off the straight.

Asif Afridi’s captaincy and bowling were outstanding. His 7/127 from 56 overs showed remarkable stamina and skill. The left-arm spinner worked through the Abbottabad batting, finding turn and bounce when others struggled. However, he lacked support from the other bowlers—Sirajuddin took 2/93 but no other FATA bowler captured more than one wicket.

The true hero of the match was Shahzaib Khan. His first-innings 167 off 350 balls was a masterclass in defensive batting under pressure. When Abbottabad followed on 245 runs behind, many expected FATA to wrap up victory quickly. Instead, Shahzaib produced another fighting century—100 not out off 191 balls—to deny FATA the win. His two innings totaled 267 runs from 541 balls, an extraordinary effort spanning three days.

The pitch at Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi clearly favored batsmen throughout. The lack of seam movement and consistent bounce made it extremely difficult for bowlers to take wickets regularly. While this produced excellent batting displays, it ultimately prevented a result despite FATA’s dominance.

What’s Next

FATA will have mixed feelings about this draw. Their batting was superb, their bowling did enough to force a follow-on, but they simply ran out of time. The positive is that their batting looks in excellent form heading into the next round. Khushdil Shah’s double century will boost his confidence, while the opening partnership showed the value of aggressive cricket in the longer format.

Abbottabad can be proud of their fighting spirit. Facing a huge deficit and forced to follow on, many teams would have crumbled. Instead, led by Shahzaib Khan’s heroic batting across two innings, they showed character and determination. Captain Kamran Ghulam will know his bowling attack needs improvement, but the batting resilience gives them hope.

The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy continues as Pakistan’s premier first-class competition. Both teams will now prepare for Round 7, looking to build on the lessons learned from this high-scoring draw. FATA needs to find ways to take wickets faster on flat pitches, while Abbottabad must improve their new-ball bowling to prevent opposition teams from posting such massive totals.

Match Details:

• Venue: Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
• Dates: November 5-8, 2025 (4 days)
• Toss: FATA elected to bat
• Result: Match drawn
• Player of the Match: Likely Khushdil Shah (206 runs) or Shahzaib Khan (267 runs across two innings)