KARACHI: National Bank consolidated their grip on second spot in the Pakistan Premier Football League when they overwhelmed PMC Athletico 2-0 while the encounter between Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and Nushki’s Baloch FC in Quetta was postponed due to security concerns.
At the KPT Stadium here, Mohammad Ashfaq gave National Bank the lead in the 18th minute before young Aadil Ahmed doubled the lead with a solo effort in the 54th as the bankers took their points to 15 from seven matches while PMC are struggling at two points from eight appearances.
“We did not score more goals because we used all our youngsters today by giving rest to the senior lot. But I think we still did the job and are happy with our current form,” National Bank coach Nasir Ismail told ‘The News’.
At Quetta’s Sadiq Shaheed Stadium, the match between PAF and Baloch FC was postponed after the former submitted a written appeal with the match-commissioner Mohammad Shafiq and the PFF requesting them for a change of their venue for their game scheduled on Monday and the next match against Muslim FC to be held on Wednesday (tomorrow).
The move came after the PAF administration did not give clearance to its team for the match on Monday against Baloch FC due to security concerns. The other day, during the match between PAF and Afghan FC, PAF players and assistant referee Nasir Ahmed were attacked by the fans and the Afghan FC players after the match ended in a 1-1 draw.
The PAF management has requested the PFF and match commissioner that their remaining two away matches against Baloch FC and Muslim FC should be conducted either in Faisalabad or Rawalpindi.
PAF have four points from nine matches while Baloch FC have six from six meetings.
In another game at the same venue, Navy beat Muslim FC 2-1 to take their points to nine from nine outings. Mohammad Basharat put Navy 1-0 ahead with a strike in the 32nd minute. But Muslim FC bounced back in the game with an equaliser from Abdul Qadeer in the 52nd.
However, Navy’s Asif Bakhsh scored the winner fourteen minutes from time to clinch three crucial points.
With the defeat, debutants Muslim FC from Chaman, have seven points from five matches.
Today’s fixtures: Afghan FC v Army (Sadiq Shaheed Football Stadium, Quetta), PIA v WAPDA (KPT Stadium, Karachi), KESC v KRL.