Moin Khan to captain Karachi Harbour

Moin Khan will captain Karachi Harbour as he bids to regain his place in the Pakistan side © AFP

Moin Khan, the former Pakistan captain, has been named the captain of Karachi Harbour in the Silver League of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy, which starts later this month. Khan, 34, last played for Pakistan against Sri Lanka almost a year ago.

Moin's task, aside from endeavouring to recapture his place in the Pakistan team, will be to help Karachi Harbour win the Silver League - or the second division in the newly bifurcated Quaid-i-Azam Trophy - so that the city qualifies for promotion to the more lucrative Gold League for the 2006-07 season.

Karachi Harbour were known until last season as Karachi Whites, and were led by Faisal Iqbal, ex-Test player and nephew of Javed Miandad. Moin took over during the season and the veteran retains the post this season.

Karachi has traditionally fielded two teams in the competition; last season's Karachi Blues are now to be called Karachi Urban and will be led by Hasan Raza. Last season, the team were led by another Pakistan wicketkeeper, Rashid Latif, but he has been surprisingly left out of the squad this season. The city has won Pakistan's premier domestic competition a record 17 times, including a run of seven consecutive wins between 1958-59 and 1966-67.

This year, seven teams have been placed in the Golden League, including holders Peshawar and last season's second-placed side Faisalabad. The other outfits are Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Multan, Karachi Urban and Lahore Shalimar.

The six teams in the Silver League are Lahore Ravi, Karachi Harbour, Hyderabad, Quetta, Islamabad and Abbottabad.

Junaid Zia has been appointed captain of Lahore Shalimar while Imran Tahir, the former Pakistan U-19 legspinner, will lead Lahore Ravi. Quetta have named Faisal Irfan, a fast bowling all-rounder as captain and another fast-medium bowler, Sajid Shah, will captain Abbottabad. Hyderabad, meanwhile, will look to Faisal Athar, a prolific middle-order batsman, to lead them during the tournament.

The Quaid-i-Azam Trophy begins on October 16, and the winners of the Gold League can expect to receive Rs1,100,000 (US$18,500).