Northern, Sindh face off in ninth round of Quaid Trophy.

ISLAMABAD -- This first-class season has produced some exciting contests and outstanding individual performances and the penultimate round of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2022-23 - that begins on Monday promises more excitement with the two best sides locking horns in Karachi.

The iconic National Bank Cricket Arena in Karachi would host the fixture between top-ranked Northern and second-placed Sindh.

The two sides have dominated the points table for majority of the season and seem on course to secure berths in the final, said a press release.

While Northern are 13 points clear of Sindh with 122 points, Sindh will remain wary of third-placed Central Punjab who are only seven points behind them.

Northern enter this competition after securing a draw against star-studded Central Punjab at the LCCA Ground in Lahore thanks to a heroic fourth innings half-century from 20-year-old all-rounder Mubasir Khan.

The youngster was the player of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2021-22 and has proved to be a vital cog, providing the right balance with his crucial performances with the bat and ball this season.

Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa bagged five points each in the last round as their match at the Pindi Cricket Stadium was abandoned. But, Sindh have been on a high. In the seventh round, they recorded their third win by beating Southern Punjab by 202 runs.

Northern and Sindh were the only sides with three wins this season. When they met earlier in the season, the match ended in a draw.

Central Punjab stay at the LCCA Ground where they play fourth-ranked Balochistan, who are the only other team in this edition to win a match (they have won two). Central Punjab are the only side to play all draws, but wins in the last two rounds can propel them to another Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final.

When Central Punjab and Balochistan faced off earlier in the season that contest ended in a draw.

The third match of the round will be played between Southern Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium. The two sides faced off in the second round at the same venue with their match also ending in a draw.

The two teams were placed at the bottom of the points table - Southern Punjab fifth, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa sixth.

Southern Punjab played out a draw...