Pakistan Premier League Wrap: Round 10

Since the inception of Pakistan Premier League in 2004 the top three positions have always been shared each year by three rivals namely Pakistan Army, WAPDA and KRL. WAPDA and Army won the championship twice each while KRL secured fourth position in each subsequent year.

And, this year too when the 2008-09 season is near to end all the three favorites have leapfrogged the rest of contesting teams on the points table.  

KPT that enjoyed the top spot for about 2/3rd of the season has now left with no chance to win the championship. The Karachi-based outfit secured a comfortable win against PTV this week but in a do-or-die match against Pakistan Army it suffered a defeat which has almost finished their chances to top the table.

KRL retains the top slot by maintaining their rhythm and winning continuity. The Islamabad-based team led by national skipper Muhammad Essa seems well on the way to become 5th Premier League and over all 54th National Football Champion of Pakistan, which would be the representative of Pakistan in the 5th AFC President's Cup 2009.

Despite the deduction of one point as penalty for fielding ineligible players in the match against Pakistan Army last week, KRL leads the table. Their striker Muhammad Rasool is in fine touch who is the leading goal scorer of the season with 21 goals. The hitman scored this week another hat-trick -- his third of the season -- against Afghan FC in a 3-1 victory.   

The Lahore-based WAPDA outplayed HBL by 2-0 and Pakistan Steel by 5-2 this week and successfully chasing the KRL for the top spot. The two-time Premiership winner has so far played 20 matches -- two less than KRL -- and in their next four matches it will have the same home advantage. F

inely supported by their striker Arif Mahmood, who also hit his third hat-trick of the season against Pakistan Steel, WAPDA with 42 points seems just inches away from KRL’ 45 to overtake the League leader.  

Having an important win over KPT this week, Pakistan Army proved that it is never out of race. Marching towards top of the chart, the soldiers played in aggressive fashion under their captain Imran Hussain and are keeping a tight control of the situation. Their win over KPT helped them to take their points to 40 from 21 matches and they are currently occupying fourth place behind the leaders KRL, WAPDA and KPT.    

At the bottom of the table, PIA saved themselves from relegation when they scored a convincing 2-0 victory against debutants PEL in a crucial encounter this week. With the triumph, PIA almost booked their seat for the next season as they look safely placed with 28 points from 23 meetings.  

However, PTV failed to create any impression in this year Pakistan Premier Football League and for the next year the outfit will be certainly relegated the PFF League 2009 : the B-Division Soccer event of Pakistan Football Federation.  

M Wasim