October 05, 2007	Friday	Ramazan 22, 1428

KARACHI, Oct 4: Discarded Pakistan junior forward Azlan Khan gave selectors timely reminder with a brilliant hat-trick which helped Zafar XI edge past Rauf XI 3-2 in the Ramazan Champions Trophy hockey tournament at UBL Sports Complex on Thursday.

The losers got off to a fine start with a Zulfiqar Hussain goal in the 16th minute before Azlan hammered in the leveller in the 29th minute.

Azlan, who has been overlooked for a six-nation under-19 tournament in Singapore recently, slotted home his second on a penalty corner in the 45th minute before completing his treble three minutes later with yet another short corner conversion.

The losing side reduced the margin through Irfan Ali in the 49th minute but failed to restore parity.

The Port Qasim Authority (PQA), who are yet to get playing rights from Pakistan Hockey Federation but recently clinched All-Pakistan Shahee-i-Millat hockey title, could not match Hanif XI as the game ended in a 3-3 draw.

The PQA started with an Irfan Ali Khan strike in the first minute of the game, while Hanif XI equalised through Imran in the eighth minute and then grabbed the lead in the 23rd minute when Asim slammed home.

The PQA levelled the scores with a Kashif Jawwad goal three minutes into second half, while Hanif XI made it 3-2 with a Sameer goal in the 45th minute.

Kashif, a discarded Pakistan centre-forward, saved PQA blushes when he struck the equaliser two minutes later on a penalty corner.