Upbeat Dolphins look to begin Gold Cup with a bang

KARACHI: Karachi Dolphins will face Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) in their Group I opener of the President’s Gold Cup One-day Tournament 2014-15 which begins here at the National Stadium on Monday (today).
Dolphins, who finished fifth in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold last month, will have the support of some good players like Saad Ali, Yasir Mushtaq, Mohammad Waqas, Babar Hussain Agha, skipper Rameez Raja Junior, Fazal Subhan, wicket-keeper Mohammad Hasan, left-arm spinner Faraz Ahmed, pace-trio Mir Hamza, Babar Rehman, Adeel Malik and leg-spinner Shahzeb Ahmed.
Dolphins’ coach Tauseef Ahmed said that his team’s morale was high.
“I think the players have gelled well as they have been playing together since long and I hope they will put up spirited display in the event,” Tauseef told ‘The News’ on Sunday.
SNGPL, who lifted the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Gold title last month after beating National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) in the final on the basis of the first innings lead, have Test cricketer Azhar Ali, Naeemuddin, skipper Taufeeq Umar, Ali Waqas, in-form wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan, Adnan Akmal, Imran Ali, Asad Ali and emerging left-arm pacer Manzoor Khan.
Meanwhile, in the other Group I encounter here at NBP Sports Complex, Rawalpindi Rams will meet NBP.
International opener Nasir Jamshed, Fawad Alam, Kamran Akmal, Sami Aslam, Raza Hasan, Ahmed Jamal and Zia-ul-Haq are some of the players who are capable to guide NBP to the heights in the event.
“Barring Sohaib Maqsood and Wahab Riaz, who are engaged with the national team, the rest of the lot is available” NBP coach Mohammad Javed told this correspondent.
“Nasir Jamshed is now in good form. He has played a couple of fine innings in the Pentangular Cup recently and I hope he will be helpful to the side in this event,” he said.
However, Javed was quick to add that their fast bowler Attaullah would miss the first match.
“He had some problem in his action which has now been cleared. He will miss the match tomorrow but will play the next game,” he added.
In the other match of the same group, Peshawar Panthers face Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at the UBL Sports Complex.
Group II carries Islamabad Leopards, Karachi Zebras, Khan Research Laboratories, Lahore Lions, Port Qasim Authority and State Bank of Pakistan.
Two teams from each group will make it to the semi-finals to be held on January 29 and 30.
The final will be played on February 1. National Stadium will host the knock-out stage matches.
Similarly, in the Silver Cup One-day league which will start from January 24, 14 teams, seven regional and seven departmental, have been clubbed in three groups.
Group I features Hyderabad Hawks, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Quetta Bears, United Bank Limited, Group II contains Abbottabad Falcons, Bahawalpur Stags, Habib Bank Limited, Sialkot Stallions and WAPDA while Group III carries Faisalabad Wolves, Lahore Eagles, Multan Tigers, Pakistan Television and Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC).
Group I matches will be held in Karachi, Mirpurkhas and Hyderabad. Group II encounters will be staged in Lahore, Sialkot and Gujranwala. Group III shows will be staged in Lahore and Faisalabad. One team from each group will qualify for the ‘triangular stage’ which will be held from February 4-6. And from there two teams will make it to the February 8 final to be conducted at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on February 8.