Quaid-e-Azam Trophy: SNGPL coast home in two days on another substandard pitch

Table-toppers brush aside Wapda as wickets fall like nine pins at the Southend Club.

KARACHI: Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold league continues to produce shocking results as SNGPL sent Wapda packing well inside two days in their 11th-round tie played at Karachi’s Southend Club.

Wapda were rolled over for 90 and 108 in their two innings respectively while SNGPL, who have already qualified for the tournament’s final, mustered 133 before going past the 66-run target for the loss of two wickets yesterday. Not even a single half-century was recorded on a pitch that offered sharp turn and dangerously variable bounce for the faster bowlers.

Over at the National Bank Ground, the hosts were closing in on a win against PQA. After gaining a 158-run first-innings lead, NBP scored 279 in their second innings to set the visitors a steep 438 run to chase.

Meanwhile, the game at Karachi’s National Stadium between Lahore Lions and Islamabad Leopards was evenly poised at stumps on day two. Lions were 251-5 in their second innings; a lead of 196 runs over the Leopards with two days still left in the match.

Over at the UBL Sports Complex, the hosts secured a 69-run lead over ZTBL. After posting 254 in their first innings, UBL sent ZTBL packing for only 185. By close of second day’s play, UBL had reached 50-2 in their second outing with the bat.

Hosts Multan Tigers were reeling at 113-8 in their first innings after conceding 403 against Peshawar Panthers.

On the third day of the tie between Karachi Dolphins and hosts Rawalpindi Rams, Rams were 48-1 in pursuit of a 238-run target.

Taufiq lambasts substandard pitch

Pakistan and SNGPL opener Taufiq Umar has lambasted the state of pitches prepared for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

As the game between his team and Wapda ended within two days at the Southend Stadium, Taufiq asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to take notice of the shoddy playing conditions.

“The batsmen can’t get any confidence on these substandard tracks,” he said. “The PCB must ensure that grounds where the pitches are substandard get penalised and are not allowed to stage matches unless the conditions improve.”

Taufiq, who represented Pakistan in the second Test against New Zealand last month, added that the balls that are used in international cricket need to be deployed in domestic cricket too. “I have always maintained that the balls used for international cricket need to be used at the domestic level too, this is the only way or preparing players for the biggest stage.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th,  2014.

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