March 11, 2008	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1429

KARACHI, March 10: Although Federal Areas head the Pentangular Cup standings, realistically the championship is set to be decided between Punjab and Sindh as they clash in the televised last-round fixture at the National Stadium here from Tuesday.

Federal Areas finished their campaign on a high note when they pulled off a sensational one-wicket victory over Sindh at the Diamond Club Ground in Islamabad on Saturday with young Umair Khan notching up a match-winning maiden first-class century as the hosts successfully chased down a target of 322.

But given the fact that the Sindh-Punjab match is being played on the lively strip at the National Stadium, an outright result with the first-innings lead will be enough for either of the two sides to claim the title. In case, the match is drawn then the Pentangular Cup will be awarded to Federal Areas.

All three previous cup matches at the NSK produced results with the bowlers prevailing over the batsmen, particularly on the first two days.

In sharp contrast, the two games featuring Punjab at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore ended in dull high-scoring draws. Punjab captain Shoaib Malik, who is also Pakistan skipper, has reportedly landed himself in hot soup for instructing the concerned authorities to shave off the grass.

Malik, again reportedly, did the same when Punjab played Balochistan at the Jinnah Stadium in Sialkot last week. According to eyewitnesses, the Sialkot track had a fair amount of grass a day prior to the start of the match. But after instructions were passed from the Punjab team management, the top was shaven off which led to Punjab piling up a mammoth 723-4 after Balochistan, arguably the weakest team in the competition, had scored 375 in their first innings.

One man who has benefited most from the batting paradise of Lahore and Sialkot is Pakistan opener Salman Butt, who has amassed 639 runs in only four innings with three centuries, including a career-best 290 against Federal Areas in the opening match last month.

But Salman won’t have it easy against Sindh, especially if Punjab lose the toss because no captain has dared to bat first after winning the toss at the NSK thus far.

Sindh, led by Pakistan all-rounder, will be hoping that Sohail Khan, who turned 24 last week, continues his remarkable first season of first-class cricket that has already seen the promising fast bowler claim a staggering 85 wickets in 13 matches, including 17 in three games of this tournament.

NWFP, meanwhile, will be facing Balochistan at the Arbab Niaz Stadium in Peshawar in a match that is only of academic interest. Younis Khan’s men should win that encounter hands down because Balochistan’s previous three outings had been nothing short of disaster.

Schedule (March 11-14):

Sindh v Punjab at National Stadium, Karachi (umpires: Nadeem Ghauri and Riazuddin; TV umpire: Salim Badar; match referee: Anwer Khan).

NWFP v Balochistan at Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar (umpires: Zameer Haider and Ahmed Shahab; match referee: Mohammad Anees).

Standings

(Tabulated under played, won, lost, drawn, net run-rate):

Federal Areas 4 2 0 2 18 -0.43

Punjab 3 1 0 2 12 +1.61Sindh 3 2 1 0 12 +0.25

NWFP 3 0 1 2 6 -0.53

Balochistan 3 0 3 0 0 -0.97