The 2016–17 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy was the 59th edition of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan's domestic first-classcricket competition. It was contested by 16 teams representing eight regional associations and eight departments,[a] and ran between 1 October and 15 December 2016.[1]
The format of the competition remained the same as the previous season, with two round-robingroup stages and a final. The regions and departments were divided evenly between the two groups for the preliminary group stage, with the four top teams in each advancing to a "Super Eight" group stage; the top team in each of the Super Eight groups contested the final.[2] Ten of the matches, including the two Super Eight fixtures and the final, were played as day/night games, in preparation for Pakistan's tour to Australia in December 2016.[1]
Returning to first-class cricket were Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and a second Karachi team (Blues) having gained promotion from the Patron's Trophy and Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade II competitions respectively;[3][4] they replaced Port Qasim Authority and Hyderabad, which were relegated at the end of 2015–16.[5] Neither PIA nor Karachi Blues were able to retain their first-class status as both were relegated at the end of the season.[6]
The final was contested between Habib Bank Limited and Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The match finished in a draw, with WAPDA declared as the winners of the tournament, because of a first-innings lead. This was WAPDA's first title in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Salman Butt was the man of the match in the final after scoring a century in both innings.[7]
(Q) The top four teams in each group advanced to the Super Eight stage
Position determined by total points, most matches won, fewest matches lost, followed by adjusted net run rate (matches with no result, i.e. those where both teams did not complete their first innings, were disregarded); matches finishing in a draw were decided on first innings scores, with points awarded as follows:
Win by an innings = 10 points
Win having led on first innings = 9 points
Win having tied or trailed on first innings = 6 points
Tie having led on first innings = 5 points
Draw having led on first innings = 3 points
Draw having tied on first innings, or tie having trailed on first innings = 2 points
Draw with no result on first innings, or abandoned without a ball bowled = 1 point
Loss, or draw having trailed on first innings = 0 points
Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to bat.
Mohammad Asif (WAPDA) made his return to first-class cricket after being convicted of spot-fixing in 2011, making his first appearance in a domestic match in Pakistan since November 2009.[9]
(Q) The top team in each group advanced to the Final
Position determined by total points, most matches won, fewest matches lost, followed by adjusted net run rate (matches with no result, i.e. those where both teams did not complete their first innings, were disregarded); matches finishing in a draw were decided on first innings scores, with points awarded as follows:
Win by an innings = 10 points
Win having led on first innings = 9 points
Win having tied or trailed on first innings = 6 points
Tie having led on first innings = 5 points
Draw having led on first innings = 3 points
Draw having tied on first innings, or tie having trailed on first innings = 2 points
Draw with no result on first innings, or abandoned without a ball bowled = 1 point
Loss, or draw having trailed on first innings = 0 points
Water and Power Development Authority won the toss and elected to field.
Notes
^The top level of domestic cricket in Pakistan was historically played by teams representing regional cricket associations and departments, which were owned and run by corporations, institutions or government departments.
