Old Ravians crowned champions at Prof Mukhtar Butt Memorial T20 Cup
By Nawaz Gohar ; For twenty years, the legacy of late educationist and sports visionary Professor Mukhtar Ahmad Butt has been kept vibrant in Lahore through the timeless medium of competitive club cricket.
On a blistering afternoon at the Ittefaq Cricket Ground in Model Town, the 14th edition of the memorial tournament reached a fittingly dramatic climax, concluding with the Old Ravians lifting the coveted silverware.
Driven by a clinical, suffocating bowling performance and a crucial middle-order rescue act, the Old Ravians out-muscled the Sardar Group by 54 runs in a high-stakes final, asserting their dominance from the opening delivery.
Opting to bat first, the Old Ravians faced a disciplined, unrelenting opening spell from the Sardar Group bowling contingent. However, the top-order pair of Mujahid Rashid and Saqib Butt brought both composure and calculation to the crease.
Rashid anchor-dropped the innings with a top-scoring 45, while Saqib Butt played a fluid, high-tempo 41 to ensure the scoreboard kept ticking through the critical middle overs. Late in the innings, it was Saeed Ullah’s unbeaten, explosive 21 that gave the Old Ravians the necessary late acceleration to post a competitive 156 before being bowled out in the 19th over.
For the Sardar Group, M. Faiz, Hafiz Faisal, and Zafar Iqbal bowled with tremendous heart, chipping in with two wickets apiece to keep their team within striking distance of the title.
Defending 156 on a surface that demanded variations and tactical patience, the Old Ravians’ bowling attack put on a masterclass in collective pressure.
The Sardar Group chase never found its rhythm, losing wickets at regular intervals as the required run rate spiraled out of control. While Zafar Iqbal fought a lonely, aggressive battle with a gritty 36 and Munir Bhatti contributed an elegant 27, the rest of the batting lineup folded under the intensity of the big-match atmosphere.
The Blueprint of Dominance: Rather than relying on a single standout bowler, the Old Ravians utilized a highly balanced attack. M. Owais, Waleed Khan, and the ubiquitous Saeed Ullah shared the spoils perfectly, claiming two wickets each to bundle out Sardar Group for a paltry 102 within 15 overs. For his critical unbeaten cameo with the bat and decisive breakthrough wickets, Saeed Ullah was justly named Player of the Match.
At the prize distribution ceremony, player of the Tournament was Zeeshan Butt of Old Ravians, the best batsman was M. Azeem of Old Ravians and the best captain of the tournament was Sardar Group’s captain.
The closing ceremony was a star-studded affair, graced by Chief Guest Professor Salman Rafiq alongside former Pakistan Test all-rounder Manzoor Elahi, Kamran Ch, Sohail Murtaza, and other local dignitaries.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Organizer Faheem Mukhtar Butt congratulated the champions and expressed his profound gratitude to all participating clubs for upholding the spirit of the game.
Professor Salman Rafiq paid a moving tribute to the organizers, praising Faheem Butt’s unwavering dedication to sustaining this annual cricketing festival for two decades. By seamlessly blending top-tier club cricket with a tribute to an iconic educationist, the tournament remains a shining example of Lahore’s grassroots sports culture.
