March 12, 2002	Tuesday	Zilhaj 27, 1422

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)

KARACHI, March 11: The third round matches of the National One-day Cricket Championship are scheduled for Tuesday.

Hot favourites PIA and Habib Bank, who head Pool ‘A’ and Pool ‘C’ respectively, are not in action in the latest round. Their temporary absence means that Pakistan Customs and Lahore Blues are likely to go top of the standings going into the fourth round.

Customs should have no problems in defeating Lahore Whites, who suffered heavy defeats in their both matches so far against Karachi Whites and PIA.

Karachi Whites, meanwhile, are eager to chalk up a convincing victory over Hyderabad to improve their net run-rate.

Four second round matches in the northern parts of the country saw no action at all Sunday because of inclement weather. The Pool ‘B’ ties involving Gujranwala against Rest of Balochistan and Sui Gas versus Pak PWD (at Muridke) were washed out as were the Pool ‘D’ fixtures in Rawalpindi where Rawalpindi were scheduled to play Islamabad and KRL against ADBP.

Third round schedule (March 12):

Pool A: Pakistan Customs v Lahore Whites at National Stadium, Karachi; Karachi Whites v Hyderabad at KCCA Stadium, Karachi; Bahawalpur v Rest of Sindh at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi.

Pool B: Sialkot v National Bank at Saga Ground, Sialkot; Gujranwala v Pak PWD at Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala; Karachi Blues v Rest of Balochistan at Lahore Country Club, Muridke.

Pool C: Lahore Blues v Sheikhupura at LCCA Ground, Lahore; Faisalabad v Sargodha at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Wapda v Rest of Punjab at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Pool D: Rest of NWFP v Allied Bank at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; KRL v Peshawar at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi; ADBP v Islamabad at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.