KARACHI, March 19: Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik has pulled out of PIA’s first three matches of the National One-day Cricket Cup, which starts from Thursday.

Malik is still in Sialkot unavailable because of his mother’s illness. The all-rounder is expected to return to Karachi to lead PIA in their fourth match of Group ‘D’ against Rawalpindi here at the UBL Sports Complex next Wednesday.

Test batsman Faisal Iqbal will lead PIA in the absence of Malik.

The PIA begin their campaign against Karachi Dolphins (previously announced as Karachi Blues) at the National Stadium on Thursday. Their remaining matches are against ZTBL at the sane venue on March 22, Abbottabad at Niaz Stadium in Hyderabad on March 24 and SSGC at NSK on March 28.

Meanwhile, others matches on Thursday are Abbottabad Rhinos versus ZTBL at NBP Sports Complex in Karachi, Rawalpindi Rams against SSGC in Hyderabad, Lahore Eagles versus Karachi Zebras in Lahore, National Bank against Pakistan Customs in Faisalabad, Quetta Bears versus Habib Bank in Peshawar, KRL against Lahore Lions in Rawalpindi, Islamabad Leopards versus Peshawar Panthers in Islamabad, Multan Tigers against Hyderabad Hawks in Sheikhupura and Sialkot Stallions versus Wapda in Sialkot.

PIA squad: Shoaib Malik (captain), Faisal Iqbal (vice-captain), Yasir Hameed, Khurram Manzoor, Agha Sabir, Shoaib Khan, Fahad Iqbal, Kamran Sajid, Janisar Khan, Sarfraz Ahmed (wicket-keeper), Anwar Ali, Najaf Shah, Fazle Akbar, Tahir Khan, Ali Imran Pasha, Imran Ali Khan, Aizaz Cheema, Nauman Ali, Anop Ravi.

Officials: Shoaib Mohammad (manager-cum-coach), Aqeel Memon (assistant manager).