Sharjah, UAE – November 2, 2023 – The CBFS T-20 2023 final at Sharjah Cricket Stadium witnessed a thrilling contest as the formidable Seven Districts took on the Z Games Strikers. In a one-sided affair, Seven Districts emerged victorious, defeating Z Games Strikers by 8 wickets to clinch the prestigious championship title. Awais Ahmed, the stalwart of Seven Districts, was named the Player of the Final for his exceptional bowling performance. Opening the innings with the new ball, Ahmed picked up two crucial wickets while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 4.25. His early strikes set the tone for Seven Districts’ dominance throughout the final.
In a decision to bat first, Z Games Strikers could only muster a modest total of 101/9 in their allotted 20 overs. The batsmen struggled to find their rhythm as Awais Ahmed and Hafiz Almas from Seven Districts each claimed two wickets, with airtight bowling that left the Z Games Strikers batting lineup floundering. Lovepreet and Babar Agha offered some resistance with scores of 24 and 23, but Ronak Panoly, who had been a centurion in the previous game, was dismissed without troubling the scorers.
The second innings saw a clinical and aggressive display from Seven Districts, as they swiftly chased down the target. Left-handed Muhammad Irfan began the innings with a six off the very first ball, setting the tone for an emphatic run chase. Irfan remained unbeaten, carrying the bat for Seven Districts with an impressive 51* off 45 balls, which included 2 fours and 2 sixes. Raees Ahmed provided valuable support with his 27* off 23 balls, forming a crucial unbroken partnership of 53* runs for the third wicket. The match ended in a resounding victory for Seven Districts, cementing their status as one of the elite clubs in the UAE Domestic Circuit. Notably, they recently introduced a junior team, serving as a development squad in the domestic cricket scene, offering promising young cricketers the exposure they need to flourish in the region.
Muhammad Haider, Owner of Seven Districts with the winning trophy
During the closing ceremony, Muhammad Haider, the owner of Seven Districts, lavished praise on his team for their unwavering commitment and hard work. He specifically commended the captain, Haider Ali, who began his cricketing journey in the CBFS tournament and has since gone on to represent Dubai Capitals in the DP World ILT20 League and Bangla Tigers in the Abu Dhabi T10 League, a testament to his consistent performances in the UAE Domestic circuit. The final ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Mr. Nasir Akram, Member Sharjah Cricket, Mr. Mazhar Khan, General Manager Sharjah Cricket, Mr. Tehseen Javed, Member Sharjah Cricket, and Mr. Muhammad Asif, Operations Manager Sharjah Cricket, adding grandeur to the concluding moments of this exhilarating tournament.
Shahrukh Amin, the captain of Z Games Strikers, expressed his satisfaction with his team’s journey. He acknowledged the remarkable improvement, as they transitioned from playing in C Division tournaments just a year ago to becoming finalists in the A Division elite tournament.
Runner Up – Z Games Strikers
The individual awards for the tournament were dominated by Seven Districts, with Muhammad Irfan being named the Player of the Tournament for his all-around brilliance, scoring 228 runs and claiming 6 wickets in 6 matches. Raees secured the Best Batter title with 245 runs in 5 matches, while Zeeshan Naseer earned the Best Bowler award for his impressive tally of 12 wickets in 6 matches. The final match of the CBFS T-20 2023 tournament and the awards ceremony marked the end of an enthralling competition that showcased the immense cricketing talent and competitive spirit in the UAE.
Player of the tournament : Muhammad Irfan (Seven Districts) – 228 runs, 6 wickets in 6 matches
Best Batter : Raees Ahmed (Seven Districts) – 245 runs in 5 matches
Best Bowler : Zeeshan Ahmed (Seven Districts) – 12 wickets in 6 matches
Player of the Final : Awais Ahmed – Seven Districts
Brief Scores:
Seven Districts bt Z Games Strikers by 8 Wickets.
1st Innings : Z Games Strikers – 109/9 in 20 overs (Lovepreet Singh 24, Babar Agha 23, Awais Ahmed 2 for 17)
2nd Innings : Seven Districts – 110/2 in 16.1 overs (Muhammad Irfan 51*, Raees Ahmed 27*, Said Haider Wasi Shah 15, Irfan Khattak 1 for 17