KARACHI, Jan 21: The HBL national junior hockey championship 2002 will commence from Jan 25 at Hockey Club of Pakistan here.

Two teams from each province, Islamabad and seven other departments are participating in the championship being sponsored by HBL, said Zafar Iqbal, chairman organising committee of the championship.

He said the PTCL backed out from sponsorship after disagreement over non- inclusion of its name in the title of the championship.

The PTCL will defend its title.

According to the draw, PTCL, Pakistan Police, Punjab B, and NWFP A have been placed in pool A, Pakistan Army, Islamabad, POF and Pakistan Boards in pool B; Pakistan Railways, NWFP B, Balochistan B and Sindh A have been put in pool C and NBP, Punjab A, Sindh B and Balochistan A have been placed in pool D.

All the matches will be played at Hockey Club of Pakistan for the convenience of the general public. Besides the championship will help in selection of 50 probables for the Pakistan junior team.

Pool “A”: 1. PTCL, 2. Pakistan Police, 3. Punjab “B”, 4. NWFP “A”

Pool “B”: 1. Pakistan Army, 2. Islamabad, 3. POF, 4. Pakistan Boards

Pool “C”: 1. Railways 2. NWFP “B”, 3. Balochistan “B’ 4. Balochistan “A”

Pool “D”: 1. NBP, 2. Punjab “A”, 3. Sindh “B”, 4. Balochistan “A”

Fixtures:

Jan 25: POF v Islamabad 8.00am; Railways v NWFP “B” 9.30am; Sindh “A” v Balochistan “B” 11.00am; Army v Pakistan Boards 3.00pm.

Jan 26: Balochistan “B” v NWFP”B” 9.00am; PTCL v Punjab “B” 10.30am; Punjab “A” v Balochistan “A” 1.45pm; Police v NWFP “A” 3.15pm

Jan 27: Army v Islamabad 9.00am; NWFP “A” v Punjab “B” 10.30am; Punjab “A” v Sindh “B” 1.45pm; NBP v Balochistan “A” 3.15pm

Jan 28: Railways v Balochistan “B” 9.00am; Army v POF 10.30am; Pakistan Boards v Islamabad 1.45pm; Sindh “A” v NWFP “B” 3.15pm.

Jan 29: Balochistan “A” v Sindh “B” 9.00am; Pakistan Boards v POF 10.30am; PTCL v NWFP “A” 1.45pm; Police v Punjab “B” 3.15pm

Jan 30: NBP v Sindh “B” 1.45pm; Railways v Sindh “A” 3.15pm.

Jan 31: PTCL v Police 1.45pm; NBP v Punjab”A” 3.15pm.

Feb 1: Quarterfinals: winner of Pool “A” v runners-up of Pool “C” 2.15pm (E); winner of Pool “B” v runners-up of Pool “D” 3.45pm (F)

Feb 2: winner of Pool “C” v runners-up of Pool “A” 1.45pm (G); winner of Pool “D” v runners-up of Pool “B” 3.15pm (H)

Feb 3: Rest Day

Feb 4: Semifinals: Winner of “E” v winner of “F” 1.45pm; winner of “G” v winner of “H” 3.45pm

Feb 5: Final at 3.00pm.