KARACHI, Nov27: Habib Bank Limited (HBL) clobbered Balochistan 12-2 and Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) held Punjab to a 3-3 draw in the two NBP Junior Hockey Cup matches played at the UBL Sports Complex on Thursday.

The main factor in HBL’s win was their centre-forward Azlan Khan’s seven goals. Azlan, who happens to be Pakistan’s former forward Hanif Khan’s son, scored in the 1st, 11th, 14th, 25th, 30th, 52nd and 57th minutes. Meanwhile, two each were scored by fullback Salman Khan (38th and 45th min) and right-in Shahzad Nasir (54th and 56th min) and one by right-out Adeel Hussain in the 58th minute.

Left-in Kashif Ali scored both the goals (in the 27th and 42nd min) for Balochistan.In the other match, PIA’s centre-forward Shafqat Rasool scored two goals (21st and 51st minutes) and Shahzad Ahmed one in the 41st minute.Abdul Khalique (45th min), Irfan Saeed (53rd min) and Farhan Ali (55th min) scored for Punjab.

Friday’s fixtures: NBP v Punjab at 11.00am; HBL v Karachi at 6.30pm. Both matches will be played at the Hockey Club of Pakistan.—Sports Reporter

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...