KARACHI: Former champions Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) are already feeling the pressure after managing only six points from their opening two fixtures in the RBS Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Championship.

In the first match on a docile National Stadium pitch, PIA could do little except secure first innings lead over last season’s beaten finalists Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) thanks to Pakistan opener Khurram Manzoor’s excellent contribution of 241.

Then against Sui Southern Gas Corporation (SSGC), PIA were eight wickets away from taking full points at the end of the penultimate day of the match. But a last-day superb rearguard action by SSGC, through the efforts of skipper Saeed bin Nasir and Rizwan Ahmed, severely dented PIA’s hopes of a certain victory.

PIA are now desperate in to end their barren spell as they meet Pakistan Customs – arguably the weakest team in the competition thus far – in the third-round fixture from Thursday at the NBP Sports Complex.

In contrast to PIA, Habib Bank are in pole position as they sit atop Group ‘A’ with maximum points after recording comfortable wins over Karachi Whites and KRL respectively despite missing their star players Younis Khan and Shahid Afridi for various reasons.

Both Younis, now happily restored as Pakistan captain, and Afridi again won’t be seen in action but paceman Umar Gul is available after sitting out the KRL fixture as the bankers face Wapda at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The clash between Habib Bank and Wapda, who almost pulled off a sensational victory from the jaws of defeat against National Bank at the same venue earlier this week, and the National Bank-ZTBL game in Faisalabad promise enthralling matches in this round.

Group ‘B’ leaders Karachi Blues, meanwhile, are eyeing third successive victory as they prepare to take on hosts Islamabad at the Diamond Club Ground.

Second-placed Multan play reigning champions Sialkot at the latter’s home territory after both teams drew their second-round matches. Rawalpindi are poised to make it two wins on the trot because their latest opponents are Quetta who are still licking their wounds after Peshawar whipped them by 10 wickets inside three days.

SSGC and Lahore Ravi are taking a break from this round.

Schedule (Oct 22-25):

Group ‘A’: Karachi Whites v KRL (National Stadium, Karachi); PIA v Pakistan Customs (NBP Sports Complex, Karachi); Habib Bank v Wapda (Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore); Lahore Shalimar v SNGPL (LCCA Ground, Lahore); National Bank v ZTBL (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad).

Group ‘B’: Abbottabad v Hyderabad (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium); Faisalabad v Peshawar (Sports Stadium, Sargodha); Islamabad v Karachi Blues (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad); Sialkot v Multan (Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot); Rawalpindi v Quetta (National Ground, Islamabad).