Afridi, Umar to play as Quaid Trophy fourth round starts

KARACHI: Pakistan’s T20 captain Shahid Afridi and Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq will be seen in action for Habib Bank Limited (HBL) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for the first time in the season as the fourth round of Quaid-e-Azam Trophy begins at different venues of the country on Monday (today).
“Yes, Afridi will play tomorrow. Asad Shafiq has also joined. We will decide tomorrow who should be dropped to accommodate the two,” HBL coach Kabir Khan told ‘The News’ from Lahore on Sunday.
HBL, in Group B, will face Lahore Whites at LCCA Ground, Lahore.
Afridi has decided to play a game to keep himself in practice ahead of Pakistan’s three-match T20 series against England in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Afridi also played against State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy last year.
“The pitch of LCCA seems to be supporting. It has grass on it and I expect a good show from my team,” Kabir said.
He agreed that rain has marred most of the matches. “It affected almost every team,” the former left-arm Test pacer said.
HBL have just three points from three outings.
SNGPL, the Group B’s second-placed side, will lock horns with Lahore Blues at Gaddafi Stadium.
Misbah will also be part of SNGPL who have 15 points from three outings, which included a huge 153-run win against Hyderabad.
“Yes, Misbah will be there. It is not yet decided whether Misbah will lead the side or Taufeeq Umar. Misbah’s name is also in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). He will go to Bangladesh after this match,” an official of SNGPL told this correspondent.
He said Test cricketer Umar Akmal, who is under investigation for reportedly attending a dance party during the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match in Hyderabad, will also play. “Yes, Umar will play. We cannot take any action against him until he is proved guilty. A committee of SNGPL is probing the matter,” the official said.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided not to pick Umar in Pakistan’s T20 squad for the series against England.
Here, at National Stadium, Karachi Whites will meet Khan Research Laboratories (KRL).
Despite suffering an innings defeat at the hands of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) last week, Karachi Whites’ coach Tauseef Ahmed is confident that his side would recover. “We did not play well in the last game. We dropped so many catches and our batting was also not up to the mark,” Tauseef said.
“I have motivated the players. I hope we will play well against KRL,” the former Test spinner said.
“We have so many youngsters in the side. I am happy that they are getting opportunities at this level to prove themselves,” Tauseef said.
Karachi Whites will have their skipper Faisal Iqbal and pacer Babar Rehman back in the side. Faisal missed the last outing against NBP because of one-match suspension for slow over-rate in their game against HBL.
Babar missed the match because of his mother’s death.
Faisal will replace Yasir Mushtaq, while Babar will take the place of young left-arm pacer Salman Zeb.
Opener Arsalan Bashir will replace off-colour Mohammad Waqas. Arsalan will open the innings with Jaahid Ali.
Haris Khan will be demoted in the batting order and will play at number three.
At Pindi Stadium, in Rawalpindi, Group B leaders NBP will face Rawalpindi. NBP are set to make one change in the squad. “Fast bowler Ataullah will play in place of Ahmed Jamal,” a senior NBP official said.
He said skipper Kamran Akmal and Test opener Nasir Jamshed would also be part of the team. “We released both of them for the BPL but they have shown their availability for tomorrow’s match. They may not have got permission from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB),” the official said.
Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) will face Islamabad at Diamond Club Ground in the federal capital.
SSGC, with 11 points after three rounds, will have the services of their in-form pace duo Sohail Khan and Mohammad Amir. They have taken 13 wickets each in the season so far.
After the match, they will move to Dhaka to play in the BPL which will begin from November 22.
“Both delayed their departure for Dhaka for the sake of the team,” an official of SSGC said.
Group A leaders United Bank Limited (UBL) will meet Hyderabad at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.
Peshawar will be pitted against Port Qasim Authority (PQA) at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar.
WAPDA will meet FATA at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot.