In-form HBL take on SNGPL today

KARACHI: A gruelling fight is expected as Habib Bank Limited (HBL) face three-time winners Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in their second round match of the National One-day Cup for Departments here at National Stadium on Monday (today).

The match starts at 9:30am. Both the teams seem in good form and won their first round matches convincingly.

SNGPL, who failed to defend their Quaid-e-Azam Trophy title, showed great resolve in their first round outing against demoralised Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

SNGPL skipper Mohammad Hafeez also regained his form by hitting fifty. He had been struggling with the bat in the first-class cricket that ended last week.

He is expected to contribute to his team’s cause in the remaining matches as an all-rounder, an advantage which the former Pakistan captain was missing for quite some time because of his bowling action which has now been cleared by the ICC.

HBL, who lost to WAPDA in the final of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, are in top gear and are a real threat to SNGPL. Their openers Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman and Imran Farhat are in great shape.

At Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad, National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) will face WAPDA. NBP overwhelmed KRL at the same venue in their first outing the other day thanks to a splendid all-round performance from young Kamran Ghulam, who took career-best five wickets and scored 61.

At UBL Sports Complex, Karachi, United Bank Limited (UBL) will lock horns with KRL. Both these outfits lost their opening games. At State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Ground, PIA meet Shoaib Malik-led Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC). The latter are in top form. Their key player Asif Zakir’s golden run with the bat continues as he began the One-day Cup with a glorious match-winning century against UBL.

He ended the first-class season as the second leading scorer.

After a round robin engagement, four leading sides from the pack of eight will advance to semi-finals, which will be held on December 31.  The final will be conducted on January 2.