Sheikhupura cricket team

Sheikhupura cricket team, from the city of Sheikhupura in Sheikhupura District in the north-east of Punjab province, played first-class cricket in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy for three seasons from 2000-01 to 2002-03.

In 2000-01 Sheikhupura won only one of their eleven matches and were due to be relegated to non-first-class status for 2001-02, but an expansion in the number of teams in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy allowed their retention. In 2001-02 they won five of their eight matches and finished second in their group. However, several of their leading players left after the season, and in 2002-03 Sheikhupura won none of their five matches.

Overall Sheikhupura played 24 first-class matches, with six wins, nine losses and nine draws.

Sheikhupura were one of six regional teams that were absorbed by stronger teams for the 2003-04 season. Along with Gujranwala, they merged with the neighbouring Sialkot team. Over the next six seasons Sialkot won the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy twice and finished second twice.

Sheikhupura continue to play at sub-first-class level. Currently they take part in the Inter-District Senior Tournament, a three-day national competition, playing other teams from the Sialkot region.

Naved-ul-Hasan took 90 wickets at an average of 21.91 and made 776 runs at 29.84 for Sheikhupura in 2000-01 and 2001-02 before joining Water and Power Development Authority in 2002-03. His fellow opening bowler Jaffar Nazir took 96 wickets at 19.44 before joining Khan Research Laboratories in 2002-03. Qaiser Abbas also left after the 2001-02 season to play for National Bank of Pakistan. Saleem Mughal played in all three seasons, scoring more runs than any other Sheikhupura player: 866 at an average of 36.08.

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