Batting review of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025: Shan Masood's dominance, the rise of the next generation, and the struggle of the "big guns"

[Asad T]

I was looking through the batting charts for most runs in the 2025/26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and a few distinct storylines jump out at me.

1. Shan Masood is operating on a different level

While he has a questionable test record, this season in QEA prove he is batting on a different plane than anyone else in the country.

• Average: 93.00 (The next best is 64).
• Strike Rate: 84.87 (Highest in the top 20).
• Impact: He scored 651 runs in just 5 matches. If he played the full season, he’d likely be sitting on 1300+ runs. He is scoring heavier and faster than everyone else.

2. The "Established" Test Batters Struggled

What makes Shan's 93 average even more insane is how much the other current/fringe Test players struggled to dominate the same bowling attacks. You would expect guys like Abdullah, Saud, and Hurraira to be averaging 60+ in domestic cricket, but they were miles off:

• Abdullah Shafique: Averaged 41.00 in 6 matches with 0 Centuries. He got starts (4 fifties) but couldn't convert.
• Saud Shakeel: Averaged just 32.90. Aside from one knock of 130, he was largely kept quiet.
• Mohammad Hurraira: This is the most worrying one. He played the full season (10 matches) and only averaged 37.93. For a guy who usually eats domestic bowling for breakfast, finishing with only roughly 600 runs in 17 innings is a massive dip in form. And quite worrying considering he is considered to be the 2nd comming of Younis Khan.

3. Who is the 2nd best Pakistani Wicktkeeper: Haris vs Rohail Nazir

We focus a lot on Mohammad Haris because of his "intent," but if you look at the stats, he was completely outclassed by Rohail Nazir this season. Rohail played nearly half the games but had double the impact.

Player	Mat	Inns	Runs	Avg	SR	100s/50s	HS
Rohail Nazir	5	7	460	65.71	67.45	2 / 2	207
Mohammad Haris	9	15	534	38.14	60.48	1 / 4	100*

• Consistency: Rohail averaged 65 compared to Haris's 38.
• Conversion: Rohail scored 2 centuries (including a massive 207) in just 7 innings. Haris took 15 innings to score just one hundred.
• "Bazball": Ironically, Rohail actually scored faster (SR 67.45) than Haris (SR 60.48) despite playing "proper" cricket.

The good news about Haris is that his FC average was about 19 coming into this tournament. Now it's 31. So he's showing signs of improvment, however, he still has a long way to go.

4. The Emerging Talent is Stepping Up

With the big names (Ex Masood) failing, it was the "Next Gen" that actually carried the tournament.

• Saad Baig (KRBLS): The only batter to cross the 1000 run mark. To do that with 4 centuries at his age is a massive statement.
• Shamyl Hussain (ISB): Averaging 64.21 with a strike rate of 76. He looks like a proper modern opener.
• Saad Khan (BHLPR): Quietly averaging nearly 60 (59.78).

It’s a strange season where the Test captain looks untouchable, but the guys fighting for spots in the XI (Abdullah, Saud, Hurraira, Haris) are being outperformed by U19 graduates and forgotten names like Rohail.

Honestly, in a way, I’m glad the charts look like this. If the top 5 run-scorers were all 30-year-old established Test players, it would mean our domestic structure is stagnant. Seeing guys like Saad Baig, Shamyl, and Saad Khan outperforming the "big names" is exactly what we need—it puts pressure on the incumbents and shows the pipeline is finally flowing again. Hopefully, the selectors are brave enough to fast-track some of these names into the Test squad or at least the A-tours soon.

And regarding Shan: we give him a lot of stick on this forum for his Test average, but credit where it's due. You simply cannot drop a captain who goes back to domestic cricket and averages 93 at a strike rate of 85. He has proven he is far too good for this level, and like it or not, he has earned the right to lead the side for the the remainder of the WTC based on merit, not just captaincy.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Since his stint with Yorkshire earlier this year, Shan Masood is batting like someone who has unlocked a secret level, scoring heavier and faster than anyone else while the so-called established batters struggled to even look comfortable. What really stands out is how the younger and hungrier players stepped up, with guys like Saad Baig, Shamyl Hussain, Saad Khan, and Rohail Nazir outscoring and outshining the players who are supposed to be knocking on the Test door

 

[The Bald Eagle]

I personally believe Shan Masood always prospers in such leagues because of big fish in pond mentality
About the rest, I think Rohail Nazir could be a great addition to PCT long formats team.

 

[zaidihusain]

I was looking through the batting charts for most runs in the 2025/26 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, and a few distinct storylines jump out at me.

1. Shan Masood is operating on a different level

While he has a questionable test record, this season in QEA prove he is batting on a different plane than anyone else in the country.

• Average: 93.00 (The next best is 64).
• Strike Rate: 84.87 (Highest in the top 20).
• Impact: He scored 651 runs in just 5 matches. If he played the full season, he’d likely be sitting on 1300+ runs. He is scoring heavier and faster than everyone else.

2. The "Established" Test Batters Struggled

What makes Shan's 93 average even more insane is how much the other current/fringe Test players struggled to dominate the same bowling attacks. You would expect guys like Abdullah, Saud, and Hurraira to be averaging 60+ in domestic cricket, but they were miles off:

• Abdullah Shafique: Averaged 41.00 in 6 matches with 0 Centuries. He got starts (4 fifties) but couldn't convert.
• Saud Shakeel: Averaged just 32.90. Aside from one knock of 130, he was largely kept quiet.
• Mohammad Hurraira: This is the most worrying one. He played the full season (10 matches) and only averaged 37.93. For a guy who usually eats domestic bowling for breakfast, finishing with only roughly 600 runs in 17 innings is a massive dip in form. And quite worrying considering he is considered to be the 2nd comming of Younis Khan.

3. Who is the 2nd best Pakistani Wicktkeeper: Haris vs Rohail Nazir

We focus a lot on Mohammad Haris because of his "intent," but if you look at the stats, he was completely outclassed by Rohail Nazir this season. Rohail played nearly half the games but had double the impact.

Player	Mat	Inns	Runs	Avg	SR	100s/50s	HS
Rohail Nazir	5	7	460	65.71	67.45	2 / 2	207
Mohammad Haris	9	15	534	38.14	60.48	1 / 4	100*

• Consistency: Rohail averaged 65 compared to Haris's 38.
• Conversion: Rohail scored 2 centuries (including a massive 207) in just 7 innings. Haris took 15 innings to score just one hundred.
• "Bazball": Ironically, Rohail actually scored faster (SR 67.45) than Haris (SR 60.48) despite playing "proper" cricket.

The good news about Haris is that his FC average was about 19 coming into this tournament. Now it's 31. So he's showing signs of improvment, however, he still has a long way to go.

4. The Emerging Talent is Stepping Up

With the big names (Ex Masood) failing, it was the "Next Gen" that actually carried the tournament.

• Saad Baig (KRBLS): The only batter to cross the 1000 run mark. To do that with 4 centuries at his age is a massive statement.
• Shamyl Hussain (ISB): Averaging 64.21 with a strike rate of 76. He looks like a proper modern opener.
• Saad Khan (BHLPR): Quietly averaging nearly 60 (59.78).

It’s a strange season where the Test captain looks untouchable, but the guys fighting for spots in the XI (Abdullah, Saud, Hurraira, Haris) are being outperformed by U19 graduates and forgotten names like Rohail.

Honestly, in a way, I’m glad the charts look like this. If the top 5 run-scorers were all 30-year-old established Test players, it would mean our domestic structure is stagnant. Seeing guys like Saad Baig, Shamyl, and Saad Khan outperforming the "big names" is exactly what we need—it puts pressure on the incumbents and shows the pipeline is finally flowing again. Hopefully, the selectors are brave enough to fast-track some of these names into the Test squad or at least the A-tours soon.

And regarding Shan: we give him a lot of stick on this forum for his Test average, but credit where it's due. You simply cannot drop a captain who goes back to domestic cricket and averages 93 at a strike rate of 85. He has proven he is far too good for this level, and like it or not, he has earned the right to lead the side for the the remainder of the WTC based on merit, not just captaincy.

Just a question. Why Babar, Rizwan, Fakhar doesn't play domestic cricket to improve their skills? These guys are struggling a lot since years

 

[Obaidd]

Shan Masood. Matches 5 Average 93 SR 85.
Wow setting the tone. Pitches and bowlers are easier compared to international cricket but still an outstanding impact and contribution to the team’s success.

 

[Muhammad Saad]

Or the bowling level this season has gone down to the lowest where anybody who is eager to score runs are easily rewarded where as senior players didn’t put heart in their batting this season due to automatic selection hence they didn’t perform?

 

[DeadlyVenom]

Shan has been a domestic bully in LOI cricket too.

 

[RidiculousMan]

Mohammad Abbas was the 3rd highest wicket taker at an average of 15 and strike rate of 35 with the ball. Comfortably best stats among top bowlers.

A huge slap in the face of those who say Abbas is not good enough in home conditions. This is nothing but a myth!

 

[ElRaja]

shans last ten tests hes averaged 40 with a strike rate of 60, thats pretty good at three, he has excellent fitness, hopefully the external pressures he often takes on subside with age, he could play nother four or five years, score another 2000 odd runs.

shamyl is the second highest first class scorer this year globally, think hes scored 1700 runs at 60 odd. hes from an educated background, should be seen as a long term prospect. id put him in our next test squad just to keep some heat on abdullah shafique who has unfortunately regressed significantly since his debut, and is also a liability in the field.