January 18, 2007	Thursday	Zilhaj 27, 1427

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KARACHI, Jan 17: Peshawar are all set to chalk their third victory in as many matches when they host the winless Karachi Harbour in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy Gold League competition in the matches starting from Thursday.

Not surprisingly, Peshawar top the standings with maximum 18 points in the seven-team group and are hot favourites to beat Karachi Harbour at the Arbab Niaz Stadium. Karachi Harbour, thus far, have lost both their matches.

Karachi Harbour, however, are expected to be strengthened by return of their appointed skipper Shahid Afridi. The Pakistan all-rounder hasn’t played since performing Hajj recently.

Sialkot, the defending champions, started their campaign on a winning note against Faisalabad and should repeat the dose when meet Rawalpindi at the latter’s backyard.

Karachi Urban will be looking to make amends for their defeat against Peshawar when they play host to Lahore Shalimar at the National Stadium.

Meanwhile, Multan and Islamabad are keen to move ahead in the six-team Silver League segment after maintaining clean sheet in the first two games.

Islamabad are away to struggling Lahore Ravi, already reeling after two defeats, while Multan are at home to Hyderabad.

The last match pits bottom-placed Quetta against Abbottabad at the ‘neutral’ venue of KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi. Abbottabad’s confidence was boosted this week when they pulled off a stunning maiden victory in only their second season of first-class cricket after Hyderabad made a sporting declaration in the second-round match.

Schedule (Jan 18-21):

Gold League: Karachi Urban v Lahore Shalimar at National Stadium, Karachi; Peshawar v Karachi Harbour at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; Rawalpindi v Sialkot at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Silver League: Abbottabad v Quetta at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi; Lahore Ravi v Islamabad at LCCA Ground, Lahore; Multan v Hyderabad at Multan Cricket Stadium.