RBS Cup Round Up
Pakistan's domestic ond day competition, the Royal Bank of Scotland Cup, started a week ago in various centres around the country.
I haven't been able to cover the competition till now, besides Khalid Latif's awesome double ton, but have got enough info now from different places to update you guys.
Captaincy Musical Chairs
The tournament began with some confusion regarding the captain of a couple of teams.
When the squads were announced for PIA and Habib Bank, the 2 leading teams in Pakistan's domestic one-day history with 13 titles each, Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan were slated to captain them, respectively.
Shoaib Malik declined to captain PIA and the next day it was announced that Faisal Iqbal would captain the team.
However, when their first match against KRL took place, it was in fact Shoaib Malik who led the team.
While Younis Khan was supposed to captain Habib Bank, in their first match against WAPDA, Younis asked Shahid Afridi to lead the team.
So the former Pakistan captain is leading his side, but the current Pakistan captain is not.
Strangeness.
ICL Returnees
The RBS Cup is also the first domestic outing for Pakistan's ICL recruits with a number of them returning to their domestic teams, while others joining new departments.
Mohammad Yousuf was roped in to captain WAPDA and failed in his first domestic match in over a year as he was dismissed by Afridi for only 5.
Rana Naveed, Shabbir Ahmed, and Shahid Yousuf also turned out for WAPDA under Mohammad Yousuf.
They might as well have been called the Lahore Badshahs!
While Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, and Humayun Farhat turned out for Habib Bank, whom they have played for since their first class debuts.
All 7 ICL returnees turned out in the same match as Habib Bank took on WAPDA.
Abdul Razzak made a succesful return to domestic cricket while leading his team, ZTBL, to a comfortable victory over Pak Customs.
Razzak, who is captaining ZTBL, first bowled a good spell with figures of 1-46 and then smashed an unbeaten 60 off 47 deliveries to complete their chase with over 11 overs to spare.
Mohammad Sami returned to his home team, the Karachi Dolphins, and had an immediate impact with figures of 4-50 in his first game against Abbotabad.
Current Standings
The 20 teams - 12 regions and 8 departments have been divided into 4 groups.
Multan Tigers, who besides Abdur Rauf have no big name in their line up, are leading Group A; having won all their 4 matches thus far.
Islamabad Leopards and Faisalabad Wolves, with 1 win each, are jointly at the top of group B, with the Leopards slightly ahead on NRR.
PIA and ZTBL are leading Group C with PIA ahead on NRR.
While Habib Bank, Lahore Eagles, and National Bank are on top in Group D having won their only match in the competition this far. Habib Bank is ahead on NRR.
I haven't been able to cover the competition till now, besides Khalid Latif's awesome double ton, but have got enough info now from different places to update you guys.
Captaincy Musical Chairs
The tournament began with some confusion regarding the captain of a couple of teams.
When the squads were announced for PIA and Habib Bank, the 2 leading teams in Pakistan's domestic one-day history with 13 titles each, Shoaib Malik and Younis Khan were slated to captain them, respectively.
Shoaib Malik declined to captain PIA and the next day it was announced that Faisal Iqbal would captain the team.
However, when their first match against KRL took place, it was in fact Shoaib Malik who led the team.
While Younis Khan was supposed to captain Habib Bank, in their first match against WAPDA, Younis asked Shahid Afridi to lead the team.
So the former Pakistan captain is leading his side, but the current Pakistan captain is not.
Strangeness.
ICL Returnees
The RBS Cup is also the first domestic outing for Pakistan's ICL recruits with a number of them returning to their domestic teams, while others joining new departments.
Mohammad Yousuf was roped in to captain WAPDA and failed in his first domestic match in over a year as he was dismissed by Afridi for only 5.
Rana Naveed, Shabbir Ahmed, and Shahid Yousuf also turned out for WAPDA under Mohammad Yousuf.
They might as well have been called the Lahore Badshahs!
While Imran Farhat, Hasan Raza, and Humayun Farhat turned out for Habib Bank, whom they have played for since their first class debuts.
All 7 ICL returnees turned out in the same match as Habib Bank took on WAPDA.
Abdul Razzak made a succesful return to domestic cricket while leading his team, ZTBL, to a comfortable victory over Pak Customs.
Razzak, who is captaining ZTBL, first bowled a good spell with figures of 1-46 and then smashed an unbeaten 60 off 47 deliveries to complete their chase with over 11 overs to spare.
Mohammad Sami returned to his home team, the Karachi Dolphins, and had an immediate impact with figures of 4-50 in his first game against Abbotabad.
Current Standings
The 20 teams - 12 regions and 8 departments have been divided into 4 groups.
Multan Tigers, who besides Abdur Rauf have no big name in their line up, are leading Group A; having won all their 4 matches thus far.
Islamabad Leopards and Faisalabad Wolves, with 1 win each, are jointly at the top of group B, with the Leopards slightly ahead on NRR.
PIA and ZTBL are leading Group C with PIA ahead on NRR.
While Habib Bank, Lahore Eagles, and National Bank are on top in Group D having won their only match in the competition this far. Habib Bank is ahead on NRR.
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group a and d 6 temas
groups b and c 4teams
why not equal ? 5 team in all group?
I found that strange as well anon but I guess it has something to do with where the teams are placed.. Group A matches have been held in the Sindh area.. Group B in NWFP, Group C in Pindi / Islamabad, and Group D in Punjab..
In any case I dont think 5 teams per group is something that cud not have been managed..
Strangeness from the PCB..