KARACHI, March 11: The preliminary rounds of HBL 49th Inter Provincial hockey championship will be held at Hockey Club of Pakistan here from Tuesday.

In all nine teams including two teams each from Punjab, Sindh, NWFP, Balochistan, federal territory Islamabad will be appearing in the eight-day contest.

Teams are drawn in two pools. Pool “A” consist of Sindh “A”, Punjab “B”, Islamabad, NWFP “A” and Balochistan “B”.

Sindh “B”, Punjab “B”, NWFP “B” and Balochistan “A” are placed in pool “B”.

Four top teams from the event will qualify to take part in the main rounds of National Hockey Championship being held at National Hockey Stadium Lahore from March 29.

On the opening day three matches will played. NWFP “B” take on Balochistan “A”, NWFP “A” meet Balochistan “B” and Sindh “A” clash Islamabad.

Sindh Hockey Association (SHA) which is organising the event has named its two teams for the event.

Nasir Ahmed will lead Sindh “A” while Rizwan Khan will be the captain of Sindh “B”.—APP