LAHORE, Nov 23: Balochistan are expected to offer formidable challenge to the unbeaten NWFP when they face off in the five-day RBS Pentangular Cup final at the Gaddafi Stadium from Monday.

Balochistan, who surprised cricket fans by inflicting a two-wicket defeat on a strong Federal Area side to qualify for the final despite being without skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

Pakistan vice-captain Misbah, who missed the last two matches because of national duty, will lead the underdogs against the NWFP, who are being led by Pakistan paceman Umar Gul.

The NWFP will be missing ace batsman Younis Khan, who had gone back to Australia to play for South Australia in the remaining matches of the Sheffield Shield.

Despite missing Younis, the NWFP still have a strong batting line-up in Yasir Hameed, Riffatullah Mohmand, Aftab Khan and Adnan Raees. In addition, they also have a strong pace attack that includes Umar Gul, Junaid Khan and Shakeel-ur-Rehman.

Balochistan, who lost the opening match of the tournament against the NWFP by an innings and 320 runs in Quetta last month, have made rapid improvement since then. They also have a strong batting line-up with Saeed Anwar Jr, the architect of that stunning victory over Federal Areas, Misbah and the in-form Saeed bin Nasir. Their bowling attack appears to be strong on paper with the pace quartet of Abdur Rauf, Kamran Hussain, Azharullah and Mohammad Irshad.

The winners will get Rs1 million while the runners-up set to receive Rs500,000. The Man-of-the-Final will be honoured with a prize of Rs50,000. Similarly, best batsman of the tournament, best bowler, fielder and wicket-keeper will also receive Rs50,000 each.

Teams (from):

BALOCHISTAN: Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Shoaib Khan Jr, Usman Tariq, Saeed Anwar Jr, Naseem Khan, Saeed bin Nasir, Rameez Alam, Taimur Ali,. Kamran Hussain, Abdur Rauf, Azharullah, Mohammad Irshad, Nazar Hussain, Gulraiz Sadaf, Bilal Khilji.

NWFP: Umar Gul (captain), Yasir Hameed, Riffatullah Mohmand,

Aftab Alam, Adnan Raees, Riaz Kail, Zulfiqar Jan (wicket-keeper), Nauman Habib, Waqar Ahmed, Junaid Khan, Shakeel-ur-Rehman, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Aslam, Wajid Ali, Shoaib Khan Sr.

Umpires: Nadeem Ghauri and Zameer Haider.

Match referee: Anwer Khan.—Sports Reporter