LAHORE, Dec 12: Pakistan skipper Shoaib Malik and maverick fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, captains of Punjab Stallions and Federal Areas Leopards respectively, traded claims of superiority as they launch the Pentangular Cup one-day tournament with a bang here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

“Our team possess almost the pace attack of Pakistan. So, I consider my team strong for the tournament,” Shoaib said here on Friday.

On the other hand, Malik believed he has the willow holders to tackle the opponents’ fast bowling attack.

“Though the Federal Areas have a strong fast bowling attack, we have some good batsmen to counter them and I believe my side is well-balanced,” Malik stated.

Except for the clash on Saturday, all the matches of the limited-overs tournament will be played in Karachi.

Shoaib said earlier the four-day Pentangular Cup event produced quality cricket as most of the matches were result-oriented.

“Like the [Pentangular] four-day event, this one-day contest will also help the players play tough cricket at the domestic level. And it can fill some gaps vacated due to the absence of international cricket for them,” he said.

About his fitness, Shoaib said he was quite fit, adding that he would play a leading role for his team.

Malik, under whose cap-

taincy Sialkot Stallions won

the National Twenty20 event this year, but failed to

steer Punjab to the Pentangular Cup (four-day) event final, said his team had the potential to give good fight to Federal Areas.

He said the Pentangular one-day competition would provide entertainment to the cricket lovers besides helping the players remain active.

Punjab have good batsmen in Salman Butt, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal and Ahmed Shahzad, while their fast bowling attack depends on upcoming Mohammad Talha, Wahab Riaz and Junaid Zia. Abdur Rehman is also a useful left-arm spinner.

Federal Areas, on the other hand, have a strong pace attack with Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar, Yasir Arafat and Shoaib Akhtar.

TEAMS:

PUNJAB STALLIONS: Shoaib Malik , (captain), Salman Butt (vice-captain), Nasir Jamshed, Ahmed Shahzad, Azhar Ali,

Umar Akmal, Adnan Raza, Mansoor Amjad, Kamran Akmal (wicket-keeper), Abdur Rehman, Mohammad Talha, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Zia, Sarfraz Ahmed, Kamran Younis. Officials: Mohammad Jalal Khan (manager), Shahid Anwar (coach), Mohammad Bilal (fielding coach), Yasir Malik (trainer), Mohammad Asad (physio).

FEDERAL AREAS LEOPARDS: Shoaib Akhtar (captain), Raheel Majeed, Umair Khan, Babar Naeem, Umar Amin, Usman Saeed, Bazid Khan, Yasir Arafat, Sohail Tanvir, Rao Iftikhar (vice-captain), Saeed Ajmal, Afaq Raheem, Fiaz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Naeem Anjum (wicket-keeper). Officials: Nasir Iqbal (manager), Sabih Azhar (coach), Abdul Rauf Mirza (fielding coach), Mohammad Yamin (trainer), Iftikhar (physio).

Umpires: Nadeem Ghauri, Iftikhar Malik.

Referee: Khalid Niazi.