Discarded Ijaz nudges selectors with run-a-ball century

Ijaz Ahmed gave the national selectors a timely reminder with 103 as Habib Bank recorded a narrow 13-run win over KRL in Faisalabad Tuesday, according to details available here.

The Habib Bank-KRL encounter was the only match of the National Oneday Departments Cricket Tournament that saw some action. The other third round matches involving Pakistan Customs v National Bank at Sheikhupura, PIA v Allied Bank at Sialkot and ADBP v Wapda at Gujranwala were abandoned without a ball being bowled because of inclement weather in Punjab.

Put into bat, Habib Bank recovered to reach 261 in 49.3 over after losing opener Salim Elahi to the second ball of the day.

Ijaz, who hammered 10 fours and two sixes during his 103-ball innings, shared in two useful partnerships. Taufiq Umar (26) helped put on 80 for the second wicket while Farhan Adil (34) added 85 for the third wicket with the veteran right-hander.

KRL, in reply, were dismissed for 248 in 49.1 over despite Misbah-ul- Haq's second successive century in the tournament. He stroked 103 off 118 deliveries with the aid of six fours and three sixes.

Former Test off-spinner and Habib Bank skipper Akram Raza finished with four for 34.

The 32-year-old Ijaz, who endured a disappointing tour of New Zealand after being flown out as a reinforcement, is desperately keen to make his fourth straight Test trip to England when the squad is expected to be finalized on April 23. He was one of the architects of Pakistan's 2-0 triumph in the 1996 series with 344 runs (ave 68.80) in the threematch rubber, including 141 in the second Test at Leeds.

Ijaz's return to form Tuesday is timely because an experienced batsman would come in handy during the tricky period in the early English summer when Pakistan play the short two-match Test series.