SNGPL struggle after resting key players

Leaders shot out for 232 despite Umar Akmal’s return.


Our Correspondent November 20, 2012

KARACHI: With their place in the President’s Trophy final already confirmed, SNGPL rested key players for the tie against HBL and, consequently, struggled on the opening day of their eighth-round match in Islamabad yesterday.

Skipper Misbahul Haq, Mohammad Hafeez and Taufeeq Umar were rested while under-fire Umar Akmal made a return to the playing-XI after apologising for his outburst against the team management. The leaders were bowled out for 232 in 68.5 overs at close as stand-in skipper Azhar Ali top-scored with 56 while Ali Waqas chipped in with 44. Abdul Ameer and Aslam Qureshi bagged three wickets each while Ehsan Adil and Umar Gul took two.

In another match, Nasir Jamshed scored an unbeaten century to give NBP a 75-run first-innings lead against minnows UBL. Put into bat, UBL were bundled out for a paltry 101 as Imran Khan and Wahab Riaz shared nine wickets between them. In reply, NBP raced to 176 for one with Jamshed scoring 101.

Elsewhere, ZTBL finished the day on 175 for four in their reply to PQA’s 148 while Tahir Khan’s unbeaten 57 propelled PIA to 267 for nine against KRL. Shoaib Maqsood’s 51-run knock helped Wapda to 202 all out against SBP, who were 27 for one at close in Faisalabad.

Final to be played before India tour

A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official confirmed that the President’s Trophy final will be played before the tour of India.

“The final is likely to be played two days after the national T20 event before the tour of India but the venue hasn’t been decided as the national team’s camp will be held at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore,” a PCB official told The Express Tribune. “It will be a day affair as we’ve opted against day-night with the weather becoming increasingly cold.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21st, 2012.

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