ABL take on PIA in crucial one-day clash

Karachi, Oct 6: One of the fiercest clashes on domestic circuit is on the cards for the cricket starved followers on Thursday when reigning champions Allied Bank Limited (ABL) face former winners Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the Tissot Cup National One-day Championship semi-final at the National Stadium.

PIA will be trying to break the Allied Bank's three-year unbeaten stranglehold over the championship. PIA have won the title six times with their last win about four years ago before the bankers took over.

Thursday's match will be just more than a match for the Oct 10 final under the Qadhafi Stadium lights. The winner will meet the winner between Redco and National Bank of Pakistan. It is billed as a grudge game between the two powerhouses of Pakistan cricket.

Allied Bank's Rashid Latif will be trying to emulate his counterpart Moin Khan while Wasim Akram will be striving to overpower Aamir Sohail with his cricketing skills.

Moin Khan sidelined Rashid Latif after the 1996 tour of England and though the latter led Pakistan on the tours of Bangladesh, South Africa and Zimbabwe early 1998. Moin is now the vicecaptain of the Pakistan team. Rashid Latif, on the contrary, will be attempting to put up some impressive performance to earn the selectors nod.

Though cricket is a tricky sport where predictions can't be made, still Aamir Sohail enjoys the edge over Akram with a tremendous form with the bat. In his three innings, Sohail has scores of 83, 46 and 53.

On the contrary, Akram played in just one match where he remained wicketless and conceded 18 off his eight overs.

Reverting to the team comparisons, both are star-studded outfits comprising international players. No less than 19 players, named in the 14 by each team, have represented Pakistan at various levels.

And though both the sides qualified for the semi-finals unbeaten, PIA look a more balanced and experienced team.

With Rizwanuz Zaman, Shoaib Mohammad, Yousuf Youhana, Asif Mujtaba, Zahid Fazal, Moin Khan, Azhar Mahmood forming a formidable batting line-up, bowling department is spearheaded by Wasim Akram and followed up by Azhar Mahmood, Nadeem Khan, Shoaib Malik and Asif Mujtaba.

Allied Bank has more utility cricketers rather than specialist ones. Their batsmen - Aamir Sohail, Wajahatullah Wasti, Mohammad Nawaz, Ijaz Ahmad Junior, Alay Haider, Aamir Hanif, Manzoor Akhtar - all have the ability to turn their arms over. But Sohail, Wasti, Ijaz and Nawaz are the batsmen on whom ABL will be relying heavily to post a decent score.

The banker's bowling may look strong but the truth is that Arshad Khan is the only bowler who has been playing regularly for Pakistan at international level. Mohammad Akram, Shahid Nazir are discarded pacemen while Aqib Javed is handicapped with a foot injury and has not played in any games.

Tomorrow's match will provide excellent opportunity to PIA's offspinner Shoaib Malik. The bowler has impressed a lot with his variations and controlled spin that includes the delivery which drifts away.

Heavy showers earlier this week were a blessing for the National Stadium outfield which now looks greener and harder than it was about 15 days ago.

The curator claims that the wicket prepared for the match is hard and full of runs.

The KCCA, which is organizing the game, has announced free entry for the cricket enthusiasts in hope that a large crowd will witness the stars in action. PTV is also televising the game live.

The 50-over-a-side match starts at 9:30am.

Teams to be selected from:

Allied Bank: Aamir Sohail (captain), Wajahatullah Wasti, Mohammad Nawaz, Ijaz Ahmad Junior, Manzoor Akhtar, Alay Haider, Aamir Hanif, Rashid Latif (wicket-keeper), Aqib Javed, Taimur Khan, Aamir Nazir, Arshad Khan, Humayun Farhat, Mohammad Zahid.

PIA: Wasim Akram (captain), Rizwanuz Zaman, Shoaib Mohammad, Zahid Fazal, Yousuf Youhana, Asif Mujtaba, Ghulam Ali, Moin Khan (wicket-keeper), Azhar Mahmood, Shoaib Malik, Nadeem Khan, Sagheer Abbas and Kashif Siddique.

Umpires: Riazuddin and Salim Badar

Third Umpire: Islam Khan

Match Referee: Iqbal Sikandar