The National U-17 Cup group stage concluded, bringing an end to the campaign for both Karachi Whites region and Karachi Blues region
The tournament was played between 18 teams divided into three groups, with each team playing five matches against each team in their respective group. The group leaders advanced to the triangular stage, from where the top two teams will qualify for the final.
Karachi Whites region were placed in Group B, they finished third with two wins, two losses, and one draw. Rawalpindi bossed the group with four wins and a draw to qualify for triangular stage. Karachi Blues region were in Group C, they finished fifth with four draws and one loss, while Lahore Blue Region topped the group with two wins and three draws. Abbottabad Region led Group A with four wins and a draw.
The triangular stage will be played from May 2 to May 9 which will also be a two-day format. The final, a three-day match, will take place from May 11 to May 13 at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad. All matches will be live streamed on Tapmad application in Pakistan.
Notable Performances
Karachi Blues Region
- vs Quetta: Hamza Nadeem 77, Darain Faraz 42 & 6/61; Shahzil Farooqui 3/44, Zubair Muhammad 3/48
- vs Lahore Blues: Talha Afridi 72, M Naveed 99* ; Shahzil Farooqui 4/33, Umer Irfan 3/48, Saghir Ahmed 4/52
- vs FATA: Saad Murtaza 45, Talha Afridi 73 ; Saghir Ahmed 3/43 & 5/19, Shahzil Farooqui 4/31
- vs Dera Murad Jamali: M Yaqoob 44 ; Saghir Ahmed 2/32 & 3/30, Shahzil Farooqui 2/36 & 4/50
- vs Sialkot: M Naveed 56 & 52 ; Darain Faraz 4/46, Shahzil Farooqui 2/38
Hamza Naveed scored 321 runs in 10 innings, while Talha Afridi added 259 runs. Shahzil Farooqui picked up 22 wickets and Saghir Ahmed claimed 20 wickets.
Karachi Whites Region
- vs Peshawar: Soman Kabir 76 ; Ameer Hamza 4/52, Abdul Moiz 3/41
- vs Multan: Talal Mehmood 73, Muhammad Khan 50 ; Abdul Moiz 4/38
- vs Rawalpindi: Noman Khan 25 & 53
- vs AJK: Talal Mehmood 90, Muhammad Khan 51 & 4/14; Rehan 5/18, Ameer Hamza 3/5 & 4/25
- vs Bahawalpur: Javed 85, Hassan 43, Noman 51 ; Muhammad Khan 28 & 3/32, 3/50; Rehan 3/19, Butt 3/25
Muhammad Khan scored 201 runs and took 13 wickets, while Talal Mehmood led the scoring with 218 runs. Ameer Hamza picked up 12 wickets. Muhammad Abdullah Javed scored 85 and 2* in his only match.
Potential for Growth
While both Karachi sides displayed visible talent and gave individual performances, inconsistency proved to be a key factor in their early exit from the tournament. Players showed promise in patches, but sustained and consistent performances across matches were lacking.
At this level, consistency is what separates good players from future top-level cricketers. The layout of the U17 tournament by PCB is designed to test exactly that — giving young players the opportunity to understand where they stand, what areas need improvement, and what pathway lies ahead.
The talent within both squads is evident as we saw glimpses of performances by individuals. With the right development and focus, these players have the potential to convert flashes of brilliance into consistent performances and emerge as strong prospects for the future.
With the group stage complete, attention now turns to the triangular stage, where Rawalpindi, Lahore Blue Region, and Abbottabad Region will compete for a place in the final.
