Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed carried his brilliant batting form from the Bangladesh Premier League back to his country as he took the caretaker sports minister of Punjab, Pakistan, Wahab Riaz to the cleaners smashing six sixes in an over in an exhibition match between Pakistan Super League sides Quetta Gladiators and Peshawar Zalmi at the Bugti Stadium in Quetta on Sunday.

The eighth season of the PSL is set to get underway on February 13, and the Pakistan Cricket Board, in an effort to bring more cricket to the volatile region arranged the match.

In a packed stadium, Iftikhar produced some massive fireworks and it was in the 20th over that the batter really extended his arms as he muscled a few and improvised for one taking Riaz to all areas of the park as he smacked 36 runs in the over remaining unbeaten on 94 off 50 deliveries propelling Quetta's total to 184 for five.

Iftikhar came to Pakistan on the back of tremendous form for BPL side Fortune Barishal as he amassed 347 runs in 10 matches including three fifties and a century while striking it at 161.39 helping his side qualify for the second phase with ease.

The eventful afternoon had more in store as an explosion took place a few miles away from the stadium in the Police Lines area where 80 people were killed by another blast last week. Five people were reportedly injured in the explosion and were later taken to the hospital.

The match was stopped as players and officials, including head selector Shahid Afridi, were rushed to the dressing room as a precautionary measure but the match resumed after things settled down.

Further reports stated that the overwhelming number of fans outside an already packed stadium caused the halt as fans came in huge numbers to see their favourite stars play. The management and the security faced difficulties to manage the crowd and outbursts from the fans saw stones being pelted and fires being set outside.