KARACHI, Jan 31: The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship is set to resume from Thursday after a four-day break with six matches scheduled in the two tiers. While Islamabad and Multan have more or less booked their places in the Feb 7-11 Silver League final, the picture in the Gold League competition is still not yet clear since as many as five teams are in contention for the Feb 19-23 final.

Rawalpindi, the current leaders with 21 points, have two games left as do Peshawar who are second in the table three points behind. Karachi Urban and Sialkot are also separated by three points as they occupy the next two positions, but crucially they each have three matches to play.Karachi Harbour, taking a rest this week, occupy fifth spot with 12 points after four games.

At the other end of the table Faisalabad are on verge of being relegated to Silver League since they have yet to secure points. They must win at least one of their remaining three matches and hope that Lahore Shalimar, who have only three points, falter against Sialkot, Rawalpindi and Peshawar over the next fortnight.

Islamabad meet Multan in the last preliminary round of Silver League in a match that could be described as dress rehearsal for the final. The remaining two games are only academic interest.

Schedule (Feb 1-4):

Gold League: Karachi Urban v Rawalpindi at National Stadium, Karachi; Faisalabad v Peshawar at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad; Sialkot v Lahore Shalimar at Jinnah Stadium, Sialkot.

Silver League: Hyderabad v Quetta at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; Islamabad v Multan at Diamond Club Ground, Islamabad; Lahore Ravi v Abbottabad at LCCA Ground, Lahore.

Standings