LAHORE, Nov 2: Defending champions National Bank will start their bid to retain Patron's Trophy Grade-I Cricket Championship title without their banned Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Asif.

The bankers will take on first-class debutants Attock Refinery Limited (ARL) on Friday in the Pool ‘A’ fixture at the NBP Sports Complex.

The tournament was to start from Sunday but the PCB rescheduled the programme and the event will now commence from Friday.

Pakistan vice-captain Younis Khan will lead Habib Bank against Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited at the UBL Sports Complex. The bankers are bolstered by presence of Test opener Imran Farhat, all-rounder Shahid Afridi, paceman Umar Gul, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, Asim Kamal, Abdur Rahman and Hasan Raza.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq will test his form while representing Wapda against Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited at Sheikhupura Stadium in a Pool 'B' clash. Mohammad Yousuf and ex-Test leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed are also playing for Wapda.

In another Pool 'B' match, PIA, led by former Pakistan captain Moin Khan, will meet Khan Research Laboratories at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. KRL will also be missing Shoaib Akhtar, who has been given a two-year ban.

The PCB has instructed all Test cricketers to play the first match of the Patron's Trophy after shelving plans of holding a training camp for the forthcoming home series against West Indies, who are due on Monday for three Tests and five ODIs.

First round fixture (Nov 2-5):

Nov 2-5: Habib Bank v ZTBL (UBL Sports Complex, Karachi); National Bank v Attock Refinery Limited (NBP Sports Complex, Karachi); KRL v PIA (KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi); SNGPL v Wapda (Sheikhupura Stadium).