KARACHI: The stage is all set for action-packed semi-finals in the National One-day Cup for Departments here on Saturday when the best four outfits will be seen in action.

Interestingly, Wapda and Habib Bank Limited (HBL) have been offered another opportunity of making it to their second consecutive final this season within three weeks after the duo clashed in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship at the National Stadium.

After the first-class day-night competition ended in a draw with Wapda securing their maiden title on the basis of a 42-run lead on the first innings, Salman Butt’s men are on course to complete a grand double, provided they first defeat Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) in their last-four encounter at the NBP Sports Complex before taking on the winners of the HBL-Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) semi-final in Monday’s title-decider at the National Stadium.

HBL, despite being handicapped by injuries to senior players Abdur Rehman and Imran Farhat – both having been already released from the squad – and the match fitness of experienced Pakistan paceman Umar Gul still in doubt, have exhibited tremendous resilience to come this far.

Led by Ahmed Shehzad, HBL will be out to avenge their league-round loss to SNGPL at the National Stadium on Saturday after Mohammad Hafeez’s charges had won their meeting on Dec 19 at the same venue in dubious circumstances by six wickets.

That game was marred by diabolical umpiring from Rashid Riaz, a former first-class player who had been officiating in the top tier of domestic cricket since start of the 2015-16 season but surprisingly the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been mysteriously ‘impressed’ by his attitude by elevating him to officiate in the inaugural Pakistan Super League as well as sending the 40-year-old for several other key assignments, including a few fixtures of the Bangladesh Premier League recently.

Rashid made two critical errors during the HBL-SNGPL game that eventually led to Shehzad unjustifiably copping a heavy fine by match referee and the umpire’s close friend Mohammad Anees. Rashid first incensed Shehzad by ruling him lbw for 71 to Hafeez by a ball that pitched outside the leg stump.

And then the most damning decision arrived in the second half of the match when he reprieved Hafeez at crucial juncture of the chase.

Widely known in cricketing circles as a ‘walker’ whenever he has been given out, Hafeez – who is desperately bidding for an international comeback – had started walking after thick-edging a catch to wicket-keeper Jamal Anwar off paceman Ammad Butt but upon seeing Rashid turning down the vociferous shout, the Pakistan all-rounder continued batting until he was eventually dismissed for 55.

SNGPL will be heavily relying on the excellent form of discarded Test batsman Iftikhar Ahmed who has scores of 95, 94 and an unbeaten 85 from the last four innings under his belt and young opener Imran Butt, one of three players in this competition to make over 400 runs with a current tally of 402.

Shehzad had been the shining star for HBL with 419 runs — a total only bettered by a single run, amassed by UBL skipper Shan Masood.

Wapda hold psychological advantage over SSGC after having grabbed a last-ball victory by three wickets at the SBP Sports Complex only last Sunday.

But Wapda are well aware of the fact SSGC played that fixture without their influential skipper Shoaib Malik who had flown to India for a few days owing to some personal commitments.

Given the playing surface at the NBP Sports Complex, SSGC will be coming out with a sense of urgency that was clearly missing from their game in Thursday’s league defeat at the hands of SNGPL at the National Stadium.

Wapda, on the other hand, will be seeking further inspiration from the bat of Kamran Akmal after the seasoned campaigner registered his second ton of the event and 17th of his long career while making 107 against Khan Research Laboratories in Hyderabad on Thursday.

After being overlooked for the forthcoming ODI series in Australia, Kamran could be venting his anger at the SSGC bowlers.

Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2016