LAHORE – Two former national champions, Pakistan Air Force and Habib Bank Limited, will face each other in the opening match of the 21st NBP Football Cup, which will commence today at Bohranwali Ground, Faisalabad. PFF has issued the draws of the 32-match football fiesta and approved two venues for the event under the aegis of Pakistan’s Tier I PMC Athletico Club Faisalabad. Bohranwali Ground will act as the main venue, hosting 19 matches, while the PMC Ground will be utilised for the rest of the tournament.
PMC Athletico will create history when they become the first club ever to host a national event in the entire 63-year history of PFF. The Commissioner of Faisalabad, Syed Tahir Hussain Shah, head of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) responsible for the two-week event, praised the efforts of PMC management. PMC President and Organising Secretary Rai Saif Ur Reman Bhatti thanked PFF President Faisal Saleh Hayat for reposing confidence on PMC. Bhatti also confirmed that the arrangements for the transportation and lodging of all football officials and players have been made. Meanwhile, Rana Ahmed Hassan, the Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) for Faisalabad Division, vowed to take all the necessary security measures to ensure safety of teams, venues, and spectators throughout the event.
“We are committed to providing necessary medical assistance for all 32 encounters as well as authorizing a Rescue 1122 ambulance for quick care of any kind of injury in all games,” added Zubair Anwar, the Divisional Emergency Officer for Faisalabad.
TEAMS:
Group A: WAPDA, National Bank of Pakistan, Navy, Ashraf Sugar Mills
Group B: Khan Research Laboratories, Habib Bank Limited, Pakistan Air Force, Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
Group C: Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan International Airlines, Pakistan Television, Police
Group D: PMC Athletico, Army, Karachi Electric Supply Corporation, Railways
SCHEDULE:
14 April: PAF v HBL (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM)
15 April: PIA v PTV (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), ZTBL v KRL (PMC Ground 2 PM), KPT v Police (PMC Ground 4 PM)
16 April: WAPDA v Ashraf Mills (PMC Ground 2 PM), Navy v NBP (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), KESC v PMC (PMC Ground 4 PM), Army v Railways (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM)
17 April: Police v PIA (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), KPT v PTV (PMC Ground 2 PM), HBL v KRL (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), PAF v ZTBL (PMC Ground 4 PM)
18 April: WAPDA v NBP (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), Navy v Ashraf Mills (PMC Ground 4 PM), KESC v Railways (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), Army v PMC (PMC Ground 2 PM),
19 April: KPT v PIA (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), PTV v Police (PMC Ground 4 PM), PAF v KRL (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), ZTBL v HBL (PMC Ground 2 PM)
20 April: WAPDA v Navy (Bohranwali Ground 2 PM), NBP v Ashraf Mills (PMC Ground 2 PM), KESC v Army (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), Railway v PMC (PMC Ground 4 PM)
Quarter-Finals:
21 April: B1 v C2 (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM), C1 v B2 ((PMC Ground 4 PM)
22 April: A1 v D2 (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM)
23 April: D1 v A2 (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM)
Semi-Finals:
24, 25 April: (Bohranwali Ground 4 PM)
3rd Place Match:
26 April: Bohranwali Ground 4.30 PM
Final:
27April: Bohranwali Ground 3.30 PM
