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With eight Pakistan players including former captain full-back Zeeshan Ashraf, Haseem, and Akhtar Ali in their ranks, the bankers struggled against KESC, who bounced back from two goals down to lead 3-2 after half-time at the Hockey Club of Pakistan.
NBP started well when Muhammad Ateeq opened the scoring on a penalty corner two minutes into the game. Pakistan centre-forward Haseem Khan added a second from a field effort in the 12h minute. Coached by former national hockey selector and Pakistan Hockey Federation associate secretary Rana Mujahid, the bankers were rattled when KESC reduced the margin through an Aleem Bilal short corner. KESC then restored parity with a goal from Amir Ashiq, five minutes before half-time.
Four minutes into the second half, KESC went 3-2 ahead with a goal from Irfan Khan. The bankers recovered as Ateeq converted another penalty corner in the 42nd minute to make it 3-3. NBP then scored two quick goals when Pakistan forward Akhtar Ali scored their fourth in the 46th minute and Muhammad Taufeeq added the fifth 60 seconds later.
Ateeq completed his hat-trick in the 55th minute while Akhtar got his double five minutes later.
KESC threatened NBP a minute later when they reduced the margin to make it 7-4 through Irfan. However, NBP secured the win with a penalty stroke from Akhtar in the 64th minute and a 68th-minute Naeem Akbar strike.
KESC went down fighting with a their fifth goal when scored his second goal Amir a minute before full-time.
SSGC handed a crushing 5-1 defeat to PAF in the second match of the day.
PAF got their solitary goal through Imran Hafeez in the 10th minute. Sajid, Ishtiaq Mubeen and Shakeel Abbasi scored one goal apiece for SSGC, while Shabbir Ahmad Khan scored two.
Meanwhile, the technical officials got their act together after press reports about SSGC's Ishtiaq Mubeen who acted as team manager and also played for his department against KESC on Sunday. Ishtiaq was allowed to play but was removed as SSGC manager by technical officials on Monday and Irfan Ahmad Shah acted as team manager in the match against PAF.
Formidable PIA were held by Pakistan Army to a 1-1 draw in Mondays last match.
PIA, who had the services of 16 Pakistan senior, whites or junior team players, were being coached by the sacked Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan.
The defending champions took the lead with a 12th-minute goal from Mohammad Irfan but Army equalised from a short corner by Kashif Ali in the 47th minute.
The soldiers scored in the 64th minute but the goal was not awarded by the umpire, saving PIA from an embarrassing defeat against a weaker Army side.
Organisers changed the schedule of the tournament after criticism in the press. The KESC-SSGC match, on Sunday, was played in near darkness after starting late.
Tuesday's fixtures
NBP v PQA at 1.30pm; Navy v Army at 3.00pm; HBL v Wapda 4.45pm
