LAHORE, Dec 6: As the ninth round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy championship commences across the country from Friday, overcast conditions in the northern areas just might affect Pakistan International Airlines’ (PIA) top position in pool ‘B’.
PIA are to meet hosts Abbottabad in Abbottabad where the rainy weather is likely to head them towards a draw. With their 48 points from eight matches, the national carriers at this stage cannot afford to draw, especially not with close rivals Sui Northern Gas Pipe Line (SNGPL) at their heels with a three-point difference.
SNGPL will be meeting the lowly-graded Karachi Blues in Karachi, where there is a very low probability of rain.
Other matches to be held in the northern parts of Pakistan that may be affected due to bad light or rain in the next four days are Islamabad vs KRL at Diamond Club ground, Islamabad; Peshawar vs ZTBL at the Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; Rawalpindi vs Quetta at the KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi and Multan vs Lahore Shalimar at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
The last round of matches in the Quaid Trophy played on the same grounds in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore were either washed out or suffered from bad light when play had to be called off in contrast to the ones played in the southern parts of the country.
With 54 points in pool ‘A’, leaders Habib Bank Limited (HBL), however, are in sound position. In round nine, they meet Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), who are trailing on seven, at the UBL ground No.1, Karachi.
However, runners-up National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) with 48 points are a constant threat for HBL. The last round clash (from Dec 26) between HBL and NBP is likely to decide the pool leaders to qualify for the main final.
Schedule for Dec 7-10:
HBL vs SSGC, UBL ground No.1, Karachi; KARACHI WHITES vs WAPDA, National Stadium, Karachi; LAHORE RAVI vs MULTAN, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; HYDERABAD vs NBP, Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad; FAISALABAD vs SIALKOT, Sheikhupura Stadium; ISLAMABAD vs KRL, Diamond Club ground, Islamabad; PESHAWAR vs ZTBL, Arbab Niaz Stadium, Peshawar; ABBOTTABAD vs PIA, Abbottabad Stadium; KARACHI BLUES vs SNGPL, Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi; RAWALPINDI vs QUETTA, KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi.
Points-table (tabulate shows teams, matches, wins, losses, draws and points):
‘A’
HBL 7-6-1-0-54
NBP 7-5-0-2-48
WAPDA 7-4-0-3-39
LAHORE RAVI 7-3-3-1-27
FAISALABAD 8-2-2-4-27
KARACHI WHITES 7-2-2-3-21
SSGC 7-2-3-3-21
MULTAN 8-2-3-3-21
SIALKOT 7-1-3-3-15
HYDERABAD 7-0-4-3-3
CUSTOMS 8-0-7-1-3
‘B’
PIA 8-5-0-3-48
SNGPL 7-5-1-1-45
ISLAMABAD 7-4-3-0-36
KRL 7-2-1-4-27
ZTBL 8-2-2-4-24
LAHORE SHALIMAR 8-2-2-4-18
RAWALPINDI 7-1-2-4-18
PESHAWAR 8-1-4-2-15
KARACHI BLUES 7-1-3-3-12
ABBOTTABAD 7-0-2-5-9
QUETTA 6-0-4-2-0