KARACHI: Habib Bank Limited (HBL) received a late boost on Friday night when it emerged the currently out-of-favour Pakistan opener Ahmed Shehzad would be available for the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy National Cricket Championship final against Wapda.

HBL team manager Sohail Mazhar told Dawn that Shehzad has expressed his willingness to play in the title-deciding fixture that starts from Saturday here at the National Stadium, after competing in the Bangladesh Premier League T20 event which concluded with the final on Friday.

“Ahmed contacted us to announce he is available to play in the [Quaid-i-Azam Trophy] final after having finished his stint in the Bangladesh Premier League,” Sohail confirmed. “His availability undoubtedly strengthened our team for the all-important match here in Karachi”

Shehzad, 25, represented Comilla Victorians, the franchise which failed to qualify the playoffs after ending up in sixth spot in the seven-team competition. In eight matches the right-hander made 247 runs at an average of 35.28 with two half-centuries.

Shehzad, who left for Bangladesh after playing only two matches for his department, won’t be leading HBL in the final.

“The [HBL] team management has already made it clear to Shehzad [who was announced as skipper at the start of the championship] that Abdur Rehman would be leading our side in the final, “Sohail clarified. “And if he wants to play then that would be purely as a batsman alone since Rehman has done a great job as captain after he left to play in the league. Even if Shahid Afridi [another on the HBL payroll who also played in the BPL for bottom-placed Rangpur Riders] was also available, we would have Rehman as our team leader.”

Shehzad was due to arrive in the city later on Friday.

Published in Dawn December 10th, 2016