NBP pummel Port Qasim in hockey event

Ateeq stars with hat-trick in national championship.

KARACHI: NBP registered an overwhelming victory over Port Qasim, thrashing their hapless opponents 7-1 in their National Hockey Championship clash at the Hockey Club of Pakistan, Karachi.

Mohammad Ateeq was the star of the show with a remarkable hat-trick in a match which saw NBP display exemplary team-work. Yasir Shabbir gave NBP the ideal start, scoring the opening goal in the fourth minute. This was followed by Ateeq scoring his first goal seven minutes later, adding another in the 18th minute as NBP went into half-time with a 3-0 lead.

NBP maintained their dominance in the second half as Mohammad Tauseeq scored in the 39th minute before Haseem Khan pulled one back for Port Qasim in the 42nd.

However, that proved to be the last bit of resistance from Port Qasim as Ali Shan put NBP 5-1 ahead before Ateeq completed his hat-trick in the 54th minute and Arsalan Qadir’s scored just before full-time.

Shabbir fires SSGC to win

Meanwhile, Shabbir Ahmed scored the second hat-trick of the day, helping SSGC to a 4-0 drubbing over PAF. Shabbir scored the opener in the ninth minute and doubled the lead three minutes later. He completed his hat-trick in the 61st minute, while Abbas Haider also scored for SSGC four minutes before time. PAF were unable to penetrate the strong SSGC defence despite several attempts by their forwards.

Elsewhere, PIA continued their good run at the event, overcoming Navy 1-0, courtesy a goal from Yasirul Islam in the 47th minute.

In other matches, Army beat HBL 4-2, with Mohammad Imran scoring a brace. Mohammad Rizwan and Mohammad Safeer were the other goal-scorers for Army.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th, 2012.