KARACHI: Pakistan Television’s Mohammad Shahzad smashed the fastest first-class century by a Pakistani batter, reaching three figures in just 49 balls, on the opening day of the third round of the President’s Trophy Grade-I on Thursday.
Shahzad broke the previous record of 56 balls set by former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq against Australia in the second Test at Abu Dhabi in 2014.
Misbah’s century had equalled the then record for the fastest century in Test cricket, held by West Indies great Viv Richards. The Test record was subsequently broken by New Zealand’s Brendon McCullum, who scored a 54-ball century against Australia in Christchurch in 2016.
Shahzad went on to score 114 off 62 balls, hitting 12 fours and eight sixes, as PTV reached 285-7 in 58 overs against Kingsmen Academy at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad before bad light brought an early end to play. His century is also the eighth-fastest in first-class cricket.
The sixth first-class century of Shahzad’s career came after he walked in at 34-3 in the 16th over, with Kingsmen pacers Mohammad Ilyas and Mohammad Umar having accounted for the first three wickets.
Shahzad immediately went on the offensive and shared a 143-run fourth-wicket stand with Mohammad Taha, who made 43 off 72 balls with six fours.
Left-arm pacer Zia-ul-Haq eventually removed Shahzad in the 32nd over, reducing PTV to 177-4, but Sharoon Siraj kept the innings together with an unbeaten 53 off 85 balls, including eight fours and two sixes.
Ilyas finished with three wickets for 95 runs, while Shoaib Afridi took two.
At the Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar, MIT Solutions reached 258-3 in 79 overs against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), with Atiq-ur-Rehman following up his previous round’s 142 with an unbeaten 136.
The right-hander faced 197 balls and hit 17 fours to register his third first-class century after MIT Solutions had been reduced to 40-3.
SNGPL pacers Naseem Shah, Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Azab claimed the first three wickets, with Naseem removing Hasnain Nadeem, Imran dismissing Farooq and Azab getting rid of Salman Khan Jnr. Farooq and Salman had both scored centuries in the previous round.
Syed Awad Naqvi provided solid support to Atiq, remaining unbeaten on 65 off 225 balls with seven fours. The pair had put on an unbroken 218 for the fourth wicket by stumps.
At the National Ground in Islamabad, Ghani Glass reached 263-6 in 72 overs against State Bank of Pakistan.
Mirza Tahir Baig made 67 off 109 balls with 10 fours, while Sharjeel Khan scored 56 off 85 balls with seven fours and three sixes. Ali Razzaq was unbeaten on 62 off 95 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes.
State Bank, who opted to bowl, had reduced Ghani Glass to 149-5 and appeared set to wrap up the innings, but Razzaq and Haseebullah, who made 29 off 54 balls, resisted.
Razzaq brought up his fifth first-class half-century and will resume on Friday alongside Mohammad Rameez Jnr.
At Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam returned to first-class cricket for Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) after seven years, while KRL were without Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who continues to recover from bruises to his lower back sustained while diving over the boundary rope in the first round.
KRL initially made a solid start after opting to bat, with Abdul Faseeh (36 off 98 balls) and Shahzaib Khan (27 off 37) adding 52 for the opening wicket.
OGDCL then turned the game around by taking five wickets for 96 runs. Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Iftikhar Ahmed (29 off 44) and Mohammad Faiq (21 off 59), while all-rounder Razaullah claimed the wicket of Imran Rafiq, who had scored centuries in the first two rounds.
Mohammad Hammad Khan and Mohammad Salman had earlier removed the KRL openers.
Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2026
