KARACHI, Nov 7: With National Bank already crowned champions last week, the only interest now remain in the ninth and final round of Patron’s Trophy Grade-I National Cricket Championship, beginning Thursday, as to which team finishes as the runners-up.
Dethroned champions Pakistan Customs, PIA, KRL, Allied Bank, Habib Bank and Wapda are all in contention while ADBP have a remote chance of taking the second spot at the conclusion of 10-team league championship Sunday.
Therefore, apart from National Bank’s inconsequential match against Sui Gas (already confirmed to be demoted to Grade-II next season), the remaining four ties will be worth watching.
Customs face Allied Bank on a National Stadium track that is almost certain to produce an outright result. The pacemen of both teams will be the key men here.
PIA, currently in second place on the points table, must win against PWD with maximum points at UBL Sports Complex to ensure they end the tournament behind National Bank.
KRL meet ADBP on their home territory at KRL Stadium in Rawalpindi while Habib Bank tackle Wapda at Gaddafi Stadium. Weather could play a significant role in both these games.
National Bank are favourites to chalk up their sixth victory in the otherwise meaningless encounter at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Sui Gas, on the other hand, will be hoping to end their first season at the first-class level on a happier note.
Ninth and final round schedule (Nov 8-11):
Pakistan Customs v Allied Bank at National Stadium, Karachi (Umpires: Afzaal Ahmed and Shakeel Khan. Match referee: Munawwar Agha).
PIA v PWD at UBL Sports Complex, Karachi (Umpires: Riazuddin and Feroz Butt. Match referee: Mahmood Rasheed).
National Bank v Sui Gas at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad (Umpires: Iftikhar Malik and Siddique Khan. Match referee: Mussadeq Rasool).
Habib Bank v Wapda at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (Umpires: M. Nazir Junior and Sajjad Asghar. Match referee: Ishtiaq Ahmed).
KRL v ADBP at KRL Stadium, Rawalpindi (Umpires: Asad Rauf and Waqar A. Mughal. Match referee: Khateeb Rizwan).
Standings
(Tabulate under matches played, won, lost, drawn, points):
National Bank 8 5 1 2 60
PIA 8 3 1 4 42
KRL 8 3 2 3 42
Pakistan Customs 8 3 2 3 42
Allied Bank 8 3 2 3 39
Wapda 8 3 4 1 36
Habib Bank 8 2 1 5 36
ADBP 8 3 4 1 33
Pak PWD 8 2 4 2 24
Sui Gas 8 0 6 2 0