Afghanistan team to take part in Cornelius Trophy

Afghanistan cricket team, after playing two warm-up matches in Peshawar, arrived in Rahimyar Khan on Monday where it will play the opening match in the three-day Cornelius Trophy against Rahimyar Khan at Mahmood Stadium from Tuesday. Afghanistan also participated in the 2001-2002 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Grade-II.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is providing Afghanistan cricket team financial support besides a qualified coach in former allrounder Naeem Ahmed.

Twenty-six associations are participating in the competition. The finalists will replace the two bottom teams in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy for 2003-04 season. The two bottom teams from the Cornelius Trophy will be relegated to the PCB Trophy.

First round schedule:
Pool A:
Sukkur v Larkana at Shahi Bagh, Shikarpur; KCCA Greens v Thatta at Pakistan Steel ground, Karachi; Hyderabad v Nawabshah at Niaz Stadium, Hyderabad.

Pool B:
Mardan v Nowshera at Kohat Stadium, Kohat; Fata v Haripur at Gymkhana Ground, Peshawar; D.I Khan v Kohat at D.I Khan Stadium.

Pool C
Quetta v Pishin at PCB Academy ground, Karachi; Sibi v Naseerabad at Asghar Ali Shah Stadium, Karachi.

Pool D
Rahimyar Khan v Afghanistan at Mahmood Stadium, Rahimyar Khan; Okara v Gujrat at Zahoor Elahi Stadium, Gujrat.

Samiul Hasan
G.M - Media
January 20, 2003