Karachi Blues began their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26 campaign with a hard-fought draw against Faisalabad, powered by a brilliant century from Danish Aziz and a memorable debut hundred by 19-year-old Haroon Arshad.

Batting first, Karachi Blues posted an imposing 477 in their first innings, thanks to Danish’s classy 155 and Haroon’s composed 109 on debut. The left-handed Danish anchored the innings with trademark ease, timing his strokes to perfection as he stitched crucial partnerships through the middle order. Haroon, playing his maiden first-class game, displayed maturity well beyond his years, crafting a patient century to announce himself as a prospect for the future.

Wicket-keeper batter Ghazi Ghori also impressed with a fluent 83, adding depth to Karachi’s batting effort, while Saim Ayub, who had been struggling for form in recent matches, returned to touch with twin fifties — 63 in the first innings and 79 in the second. His positive intent at the top gave Karachi the stability they had missed in previous fixtures.

In response, Faisalabad rode on a magnificent 172 by Sardar Hasan Raza, who dominated the Karachi bowlers with an array of fluent strokes. Despite his effort, Faisalabad couldn’t build a decisive lead as Karachi’s bowling unit kept things in check.

Mir Hamza led the attack with his trademark accuracy, picking up three wickets in the first innings, while Larkana-born pacer Mushtaq Ahmed Kalhoro — playing as a guest for Karachi — also claimed three scalps, showcasing promising control and pace.

The match eventually ended in a draw, with both teams earning one point each.

For Karachi Blues, the opening fixture provided several positives — Danish Aziz’s commanding return to form, Haroon’s dream debut, Ghazi’s consistency with the gloves and bat, and Saim Ayub’s much-needed resurgence. With momentum on their side, Karachi will now shift focus to their next fixture against Multan, scheduled to begin on October 12 in Islamabad.