KARACHI, Feb 2: The first semifinal of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship will be played from Monday between Khan Research Laboratories and Faisalabad at National Stadium.

KRL, possessing the services of Test discards Misbah-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ramzan, skipper Ali Naqvi and upcoming stars Saeed bin Nasir, Yasir Arafat and Saeed Anwar Junior, definitely have an edge over Faisalabad.

Faisalabad sprung a surprise by shocking an aging Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) at UBL Sports Complex last week in the only quarterfinal tie to produce an outright result.

KRL qualified for the semifinals after their intriguing clash against National Bank ended on a damp note with the final day’s play abandoned after overnight rain had left the NSK’s square drenched and muddy.

The second semifinal, between PIA and Rawalpindi, originally scheduled for Peshawar from Monday, will now be played here at UBL Sports Complex from Thursday after rain ruined the quarterfinals in northern parts of the country.