LAHORE, July 6: Multan will host the second stage of the first National Challenge Cup soccer starting under floodlights at Qasim Bagh Stadium from July 13.It is the first mega event awarded to Multan after a lapse of 30 years.

It was in 1975 that the city hosted the national championship in which PIA beat Punjab A 3-1 in the final.

In all, 12 teams will take part in the stage two. Five teams have qualified from stage one.

They are KESC, Pakistan Police, PTCL, Pakistan Navy and Sindh Government Press (SGP). Five teams have directly entered the stage two on the basis of their better national rankings.

Among them are the national champions Wapda, Khan Research Laboratories (KRL), Pakistan Army, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and NBP.

Two more teams are to qualify for the second stage.

The teams eliminated after the first stage were Young Eleven, Dera Ismail Khan, Mardan Club, PA XI Club, United Club, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, Mehran Club, DFA XI of Gilgit, Pilot Club, Railways, City Club, Pakistan PWD, Sui Southern Gas Company, City District Government Karachi, Mauripur Baloch Club, HBL, Naka Mohammadan Club, Rangers Club, Korangi, Afghan Club, Baloch Club, and Balochistan Club.