Maqbool’s impressive haul leads Karachi Whites to win

Players request change of venues from Punjab to Sindh.

KARACHI: Off-spinner Atif Maqbool took 13 wickets as Karachi Whites thrashed Abbottabad by an innings and 145 runs in their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Group-II match here at the NBP Stadium.

Abbottabad were bowled out for 146 in their second-innings as Maqbool claimed seven wickets. Earlier, Whites had declared their first-innings on 459 for three as Saeed Bin Nasir remained unbeaten on 80 with nine boundaries while Fawad Alam chipped in with 70. Whites earned nine points from the match.

In another match, Hyderabad fought back against Rawalpindi after conceding a first-innings lead, ending the day on 232 for two while replying to the latter’s 302 at the Niaz Stadium.

Meanwhile, no play was possible between Lahore Shalimar and Bahawalpur  at the LCCA Ground in Lahore due to bad light.

In Group-I, Umair Khan’s 113-run knock helped Islamabad to end the day on 344 for nine against Lahore Ravi, who made 216 in their first-innings at the Diamond Ground in Islamabad.

Elsewhere, Multan dismissed Quetta for 210 in 72.5 overs at the Multan Cricket Stadium with Rahat Ali taking four wickets.

Players request PCB to shift venues

Several first-class players complained about being unable to play in Punjab during the ongoing Quaid-e-Azam Trophy because of rains and bad light and requested the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to shift the venues.

The players believe their chances of performing well in the event are on the low due to regular intervention of weather, resulting in little or no play for days in Islamabad, Lahore and Multan.



On the other hand, matches being played in Karachi and Hyderabad have concluded on the scheduled timings and the teams visiting the city have deemed the conditions perfect for cricket.

“Currently, the weather in Karachi is perfect for cricket as compared to Punjab,” one of the players of Lahore told The Express Tribune.

“We have played hardly any cricket in Punjab and chances are that the conditions will remain the same throughout the season. Conditions are unfavourable for cricket. The grounds are soggy in the morning while bad light affects both the start and end of play.”

The first round match between Islamabad and Multan had to be decided on one-inning basis as both teams decided to forfeit their first-innings after play was not possible for almost three days at the Diamond Ground in the capital.

One of the players who participated in the Islamabad-Multan clash said PCB scheduling matches in Punjab and Northern Areas in winters was beyond their understanding.

“It’s really bothersome when matches are scheduled in such places. I think the event should be moved to Sindh or better venues where players can go out and play without any unnecessary delays. Both the first and second rounds have been played at the mercy of the weather.”

The venues of the Super-Eight stage of the event are yet to be decided but players feared that their teams will suffer in qualifying for the stage because of precious loss of play which makes results difficult.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2013.