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KARACHI: Pakistan discard Imran Farhat will lead Habib Bank Ltd (HBL) in the opening game of the National One-Day Cup Division-I Cricket Tournament starting across the country from Wednesday, because of a one-match ban on Hasan Raza, HBL Sports Division announced on Monday.
“Hasan Raza will be taking over the captaincy after the first game,” Incharge HBL Sports Abdul Raquib said. The ban on Hasan Raza was imposed because of slow over-rate during the 5-day final of Quaid-e-Azam Cricket Trophy against PIA.
Thanks to a brilliant century by Aftab Alam, Pakistan beat PIA to regain the premier first class event of the country after a lapse of 33 years.
Abdul Raquib said opener Taufiq Umer, who had returned from New Zealand after a 2-test match series, will be joining the team.
He said HBL will be without top players Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Umer Gul, Abdur Rehman and Ahmed Shehzad, who are currently in New Zealand for the One-day Internationals series against the host.
HBL will take on Sui Northern Gas Pipelines in their opening group “A” match at Marghala Ground Islamabad from January 26.
HBL squad is: Hasan Raza (captain), Imran Farhat, Taufiq Umer, Shan Masood, Aftab Alam Khan, Khaqan Arsal, Humayun Farhat (wicketkeeper), Kamran Hussain, Fahad Masood, Danish Kaneria, Sarmad Anwar, Saleem Elahi, Aslam Qureshi, Shahid Nazir, Salman Qadir, Farhan Iqbal and Sajid Shah.
Former Test paceman Liaquat Ali has been named as the manager cum coach of the team.
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