Quaid Trophy: Maqbool’s five-for skittles Rawalpindi

Off-spinner helps Karachi Whites bowl opposition out for 153.

KARACHI: Off-spinner Atif Maqbool continued his impressive show in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy by picking up another five-wicket haul to help Karachi Whites easily bowl out Rawalpindi in their first-innings on day one at the National Stadium yesterday.

Whites captain Mohammad Sami won the toss and opted to bowl first on a grassy wicket. Rawalpindi struggled to form any decent partnerships and were bowled out for 153 in 69.5 overs. Sohail Tanvir top-scored with 37 off 90 balls to help his side reach a respectable total, while President Trophy’s leading scorer Umar Amin made 36 with five boundaries and a six. Maqbool, who had taken 13 wickets in the previous match, conceded 62 runs for his scalps.

In reply, Whites had to face the music as well against Rawalpindi’s fast bowlers and ended the day on 21 for two in 11 overs as Sadaf Hussain picked up two wickets.

Asad Shafiq made a return after an injury to his finger which had kept him out of the series against India. Mohtashim Ali, who had scored a century in his only match of the event, was benched in order to bring in the star player as only four departmental players were allowed to be a part of the starting 11.

Shafiq had fully recovered from his injury and decided to play in the event after receiving a green signal from the doctors.

In another match, Khurram Manzoor (63) and Muhammad Waqas (53) scored half-centuries for Karachi Blues against Sialkot as they managed a score of 261 for six in 83 overs at the NBP Stadium.

After opting to bat first, Blues made full use of the favourable batting conditions against a bowling attack that relied heavily on Abdur Rehman, who had just returned from his three-month suspension for using recreational drugs.

Rehman bowled 36 overs and took three wickets after conceding 90 runs to fight back for his place in the national team.

Independent observers’ absence questioned

The regional teams have questioned the double standards of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for not having independent observers present during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches as was the case in the President’s Trophy.

“Independent observers should’ve been present here as well because it’s a first-class event similar to the President’s Trophy,” one of the regional chiefs told The Express Tribune.

“The PCB should be consistent with their policies because if something is being implemented, everyone should gain from it equally.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 8^th, 2013.