Pentangular Cup: Shahzaib leaves for Bangladesh without informing officials

Opener joins BPL party during local event as Sindh draw with Balochistan

KARACHI: Sindh were finally able to get some much-needed match practice ahead of their Faysal Bank Pentangular Cup final after rain washed out the opening three days of their four-day clash against Federal Areas in Lahore.

However, controversy marred the only day possible as Sindh opener Shahzaib Hasan left for Bangladesh without informing the captain or team manager on Tuesday night.

Shahzaib, who has joined the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) team Duronto Rajshahi, was included in the Sindh playing-eleven but since the opening three days were washed out, the team changed their line-up before the toss, which happened yesterday.

While Sindh were able to change the playing-eleven, Shahzaib’s move has not sat well with the authorities but the team manager Abdul Hussain Shah played down the incident.

“We won’t take any action against Shahzaib,” Shah told The Express Tribune. “He’s like my brother and I wish him all the best ahead of the BPL stint.”

Meanwhile, batting first, Federal Areas posted 221 for three in 56 overs courtesy a 132-run opening stand between Afaq Raheem (72) and Umair Khan (49).

While the match ended as a draw, Sindh were able to spend some time on the pitch ahead of their final against Punjab that starts on February 18, the winner of which will pocket Rs1 million.

In the other Pentangular Cup match in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were dismissed for 355 against Balochistan after resuming on 265 for four.

Left-arm spinner Ahmed Raza claimed seven wickets.

In reply, Saeed Anwar scored an unbeaten 103 to propel Balochistan to 252 for five in 59 overs before the match ended as a draw.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2012.