KARACHI: Rawalpindi face a daunting challenge to prevent the runaway Group ‘B’ leaders United Bank Limited (UBL) from recording a fourth innings victory when they host them in the fourth-round fixture at the Pindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

But judging by the way most of the regions have fared in the championship when pitted against departments, Rawalpindi are the solitary regional outfit to emerge with two praiseworthy wins, against Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) and Pakistan Television (PTV).

However, UBL have been extremely remorseless as Karachi Whites, Lahore Whites and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) all found thus far and it would take a brave man to predict that Rawalpindi have enough resources to stop the bankers in their endeavour to clinch another clinical result.

The depleted Habib Bank Limited (HBL) breathed a huge sigh of relief during their previous game against Lahore Whites. But that 29-run win gives Karachi Whites — HBL’s latest opponents at the NBP Sports Complex — an open opportunity to resurrect their wretched campaign which have resulted in three consecutive defeats until now.

Fata will also be hoping for an end to their winless sequence when they take on PTV at Sialkot’s Jinnah Stadium in another crucial match. PTV, in their return to the first-class arena, have somewhat had a bumpy ride after also been humbled by Lahore Whites.

KRL are eyeing a third victory on the trot when they visit Gaddafi Stadium to face Lahore Whites.

Group ‘A’ leaders Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) are going great guns after comfortable wins against Lahore Blues, Peshawar and Islamabad as they prepare to play the winless Faisalabad at the Iqbal Stadium.

Defending champions Wapda, who trail SSGC by three points, will be expecting the returning former Pakistan seamer Mohammad Asif to repeat his wicket-taking form in their meeting with Peshawar at the Abbottabad Cricket Stadium.

Former champions Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) are in need of another favourable when Lahore Blues entertain them at the LCCA Ground. Ex-Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq made a comeback to competitive cricket after retiring from the international stage last May with scores of 21 and 0 against his native region Faisalabad.

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) are definitely in troubled waters after back-to-back defeats against Lahore Blues and Peshawar. The bankers must find the winning formula otherwise Islamabad could take advantage of this precarious situation on their familiar territory at the Diamond Club Ground.

NBP know perfectly well from the next round onwards there will be no easy outings since they have to compete against their fellow departmental opponents until the league phase concludes.

Fourth-round schedule (Oct 15-18):

Group ‘A’: Faisalabad vs SSGC (Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad); Lahore Blues vs SNGPL (LCCA Ground, Lahore); Islamabad vs NBP (Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad); Peshawar vs Wapda (Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, Abbottabad).

Group ‘B’: Karachi Whites vs HBL (NBP Sports Complex, Karachi): Lahore Whites vs KRL (Gaddafi Stadium); Fata vs PTV (Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot); Rawalpindi vs UBL (Pindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi).

Current standings

(Tabulated under played, won, lost, drawn, points):

Group ‘A’

SSGC 3 3 0 0 27

Wapda 3 3 0 0 24

SNGPL 3 2 0 1 18

Lahore Blues 3 1 2 0 10

NBP 3 1 2 0 9

Peshawar 3 1 2 0 9

Islamabad 3 0 2 1 3

Faisalabad 3 0 3 0 0

Group ‘B’

UBL 3 3 0 0 30

HBL 3 3 0 0 28

KRL 3 2 1 0 18

Rawalpindi 3 2 1 0 15

Lahore Whites 3 1 2 0 9

PTV 3 1 2 0 9

Fata 3 0 3 0 0

Karachi Whites 3 0 3 0 0

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2017