May 15, 2008	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 9, 1429

LAHORE, May 14: Fine half-centuries by openers Ashfaq Ahmed and Jahangir Mirza, and good bowling by medium-pacer Azam Khan helped Wapda crush the touring Hong Kong side by 187 runs in a one-day practice match at the Bagh-i-Jinnah Ground here on Wednesday.

Ashfaq struck 11 boundaries and one six in making a 78-ball 75 and Jahangir scored a 63 off 69 balls with the aid of five fours and a brace of sixes as Wapda made 257 for eight in the allotted 50 overs.

In reply, the visitors, who are here as part of their preparations for the forthcoming Asia Cup, were all out for just 70 as Azam returned fine figures of four for 17. Mustafa Iqbal also snared three wickets for just six runs as Hong Kong’s innings subsided in just 31 overs.

Only Munir Ahmed (18) and Afzaal Haider (13) reached double figures.

Meanwhile, Wapda’s request to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to allow the two former Test pacers Shabbir Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan to play for them was turned down.

Both Shabbir and Naved along with over a dozen other Pakistani cricketers have been banned from playing any kind of cricket under the PCB’s control for opting to play in the breakaway Indian Cricket League (ICL). Even though both were present at the venue, they had to return disappointed. However, they did not speak to the press over the issue, since they want an NOC from the PCB to allow them to play county cricket in England.

Summarised scores:

WAPDA 257-8 in 50 overs (Ashfaq Ahmed 75, Jahangir Mirza 63, Khaqan Arsal 37; Nadeem Ahmed 3-53, Munir Ahmed 3-35); HONG KONG 70 in 31 overs (Munir Ahmed 18, Afzaal Haider 13; Azam Khan 3-6, Mustafa Iqbal 3-6, Nazir Ahmed 2-34).