There was no grand announcement, no sudden viral moment that declared Saad Baig’s arrival. Instead, Karachi’s brightest batting prospect in the past year revealed himself the old-fashioned way: by piling on runs, session after session, format after format, until his name could no longer be ignored.
Across Pakistan’s domestic calendar in 2024-25 and 2025-26, Baig emerged as Karachi’s most reliable batter — a player who adapted seamlessly between red-ball patience and white-ball tempo, and whose numbers told the story of a season built on consistency rather than hype.
A solid foundation
Baig’s year began quietly in the President’s Trophy 2024-25, where he showed early signs of substance. In eight matches, he scored 358 runs at 29.93, with two half-centuries and a highest score of 95, often batting time in difficult situations.
While the returns were not spectacular, they laid the foundation for what was to come — a young batter learning to convert starts into significant contributions.
That conversion arrived emphatically a year later.
In the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition, Baig didn’t just step up — he dominated.
Across 10 matches and 19 innings, he amassed a staggering 1000 runs at an average of 55.55, registering four centuries and three fifties, with a highest score of 154. For a Karachi side rebuilding its identity, Baig became the glue in the middle order, combining defensive solidity with an expanding range of strokes.
His ability to bat long, absorb pressure and still accelerate marked him out as a batter for the future — one comfortable carrying responsibility.
Big breakout
If the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy established Baig’s credentials, the Hanif Mohammad Trophy 2025-26 announced his arrival as a match-winner. In just four matches, he compiled 474 runs at 59.25, including two centuries and a career-best 190 — an innings that showcased his full repertoire: late cuts against seam, authoritative drives through cover and calm shot selection even as partners fell around him.
It was during this tournament that Baig truly separated himself from his peers, batting with a maturity beyond his years and repeatedly rescuing Karachi from precarious positions.
What made Baig’s year particularly impressive was his ability to adjust without losing shape.
In the President’s Cup 2025-26 (List A), he added another layer to his résumé, scoring 311 runs in eight matches at 38.87, with three fifties. His innings were often measured rather than explosive — built around strike rotation and calculated aggression — underlining his growing understanding of one-day cricket.
Even in the shortest format, Baig found ways to contribute. During the National T20 2024-25, he scored 79 runs in three innings, remaining unbeaten twice and averaging 79.00, a small but telling sample of his composure at the crease.
His stint in PSL 2025 was modest — 70 runs in five innings at 14.00, with a best of 25 — but context matters. Batting lower down the order and facing elite bowling attacks, Baig treated the experience as an education rather than a setback, gaining exposure that few domestic seasons can offer.
Karachi’s batter of the year
Karachi have long been associated with great batters, but Saad Baig’s rise feels distinctly modern — built on adaptability, discipline and a willingness to evolve across formats.
In a domestic season where Karachi rediscovered its competitiveness, Baig stood out as the most consistent run-scorer and the most dependable presence at the crease.
He did not rely on one format or one purple patch. Instead, he stitched together a complete year — over 2,200 runs across competitions, centuries under pressure, and innings that shaped matches rather than padded scorecards.
For Karachi, and potentially for Pakistan, Saad Baig’s year was not just about numbers.
