Stallions start Super Eight T20 title defence today

From the Newspaper | Our Sports Reporter | 2 days ago

-Photo by APP

LAHORE: Defending champions Sialkot Stallions begin the defence of their Faysal Bank Super Eight T20 Cup against a strong Lahore Lions side at the Gaddafi Stadium here from Tuesday.

It will be one of three games to be played on the opening day and the Group ‘A’ match will test the real credentials of the Stallions who crushed Karachi Dolphins by eight wickets to secure the title at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi last April.

The Lions, who are the reigning National Twenty20 Cup champions, will miss some of their top stars in their opening match with Kamran Akmal, Umar Akmal, Nasir Jamshed, Wahab Riaz and captain Mohammad Hafeez on their way home from the tour of South Africa.

The five players were involved in Pakistan’s 3-2 defeat in the One-day International series against the Proteas which ended on Sunday.

The Stallions will also be without their skipper Shoaib Malik and left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman with the duo also returning from national duty.

The champions, however, still boast the likes of explosive opener Imran Nazir, all-rounder Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, wicket-keeper Shakeel Ansar and slow left-armer Raza Hasan who all possess the experience of playing in Twenty20 Internationals.

The match between the top two sides will be played under floodlights and starts at 8:00pm.

Earlier on Tuesday, Multan Tigers face Abbottabad Falcons in the other Group ‘A’ match while Faisalabad Wolves take on Bahawalpur Stags in Group ‘B’.

The remaining outfits in the competition are Group ‘B’ rivals Karachi Dolphins and Rawalpindi Rams who face each other under lights on Wednesday night.

The final of the tournament is scheduled for Sunday (March 31) with Rs2.5 million on offer for the winners and Rs1 million for the runners-up.