Fall Season - Week Eleven - December 16th

Haya vs IhsanYou know Ihsan were looking forward to their rematch with Haya. This is the only team that got them, losing 3-2 about a month ago. For Ihsan they are out for revenge and to show Haya that they don’t have the recipe to beat them. Also this game is important in their bid to finish tops in the league. After tying Shukr last week, Emaan now has the inside track to finish first overall (see news and rumors). As well this represents the last attempt for Hany Soliman to re-establish himself as the goal-scoring leader; He held the spot earlier on in the season. In that game last month Nadeem Faqiri and Huzaifa Manjra helped Haya jump out to the lead and Khalid Mufti did the rest. This time around it is hard to anticipate who will be in the lineup for Haya as was evident in last week’s defeat to Yaqeen where attendance seems to be an issue. We feel for GM Naiem Akhtar who seems to be consistently showing up for his team this season despite not getting the same respect from his fellow team-mates. Rumors are circulating that Hisham Ali will be unavailable for this tilt.

Yaqeen vs Emaan
Two of the best in the business of potting goals go head-to-head for the very first time. Waqar Khan (Emaan) and Hamza Chaudhry (Yaqeen) currently share the goal-scoring lead with Arif Bijabhai (Shukr). The latter has already completed his season.  Beyond these players, both teams possess tremendous fire-power as Emaan has scored the most goals (27) and Yaqeen the second most (25). However, both teams are also getting it done at the other end of the rink with Yaqeen only giving up 9 goals (1st in the league) and Emaan right behind them, giving up 12 goals. In fact, Yaqeen comes into this contest riding a two-game shutout streak over Ikhlas and Haya. Whereas, Emaan has only conceded 1 goal in their last three matches. So this game might be a ‘good old-fashion western style shootout ’ or a ‘drag you through the mud defensive battle ’. What’s at stake is the winner will punch their ticket straight to the semis.

Ikhlas vs Sabr
It’s the playoff game before the post season. The final crunch before the regular season. Call it whatever you may but this last meeting between the basement dwellers will eventually cement the final playoff spot for one team. Ikhlas has put their best step forward all season long but have endured frustration along the way. The greens shirts have the edge in points (compared to Sabr) but need to get it going offensively as they possess the lowest goals for. GM Salman Khalid might've expected more value from Salman Syed and Faisal Mehboob but luckily Shehyar Khan has managed to compensate the team’s misfortunes. The last time Ikhlas met Sabr, the two squads ended in a 1-1 tie. Ikhlas's "upgrade" of Zayd Agjee has thus far looked questionable. I mean he's not gonna fetch you that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, but maybe if he plays bullheaded and focused then perhaps the sky is the limit. Expect the prowess of Ali Murtaza to come into play during this regular season finale. It's elementary for both teams, you win and you’re in.

Sabr's has had their own tales to tell while sulking around the campfire this season. A mere 0-5-3 and no wins to show for? Believe it or not but this squad has been teased with victory so many times that it's astonishing no one has dived from the Sabr boat and headed for the life rafts yet. The biggest bane of Sabr has been goaltending and defense. GM Naiem Malik and his defensive core need to shutdown Ikhlas's offensive threats and capitalize from team green's errors. The yellow shirts have a plethora of ammunition upfront and have to come into this game with loaded guns, I mean a winning spirit. Akib Malik and Saleem Malik have been frequenting the scoresheet and that's expected. What's going on with Abdu Sharkaway and Imran Lakhanpal? Sabr can't prolong this first win any longer and MUST seal the deal this Friday. The i-Slam polls say that Sabr will capture the final playoff spot. Sounds good, doesn't it? Actions speak louder than words. Which team will come out victorious?

Fall Season - Week Ten - December 9th

Ihsan vs Shukr:
Ihsan carries a two game win streak into their rematch from October 28th with Shukr that saw them come away with the victory.  Ihsan has quite a considerable cushion on top of the standings which sees them separated by three points from Emaan.  So far this season Ihsan has been the class of the league. They are getting it done in every facet of the game and as such they are putting forth a complete team effort in most weeks.  Looking at the individual stats for the Ihsan players they do not have a single player in the top five in scoring.  As a matter of fact Hany Soliman is their lone representative in the Top Ten!  On the defensive side of the ball they have given up the fewest shots and benefiting from this is Zaid Majoo, who is tied for the most shut-outs.  With all of that said, Yousuf Soliman is the driving force for this team.  His numbers might not be impressive but he is probably the most complete two-way player in the league and should garner MVP considerations.  Tonight he hopes to lead his team to another victory and move closer to clinching first overall.  For Shukr they come into this game with one thing in mind, PLAYOFFS!  After their clutch win last week against Haya they clinched a playoff spot.  Now they look to finish as high in the standings as possible and look to work out the kinks in their game.  Shukr supporters must be encouraged by last week’s results that they team can win even if Arif Bijabhai and Idris Deen don’t score.   Tonight they aim to prove they can compete with teams in the upper echelon of the standings.

Emaan vs Ikhlas:
Last time these teams met, Emaan took down Ikhlas to a score of 5-1.  Ikhlas is in a tight battle with Sabr, whom they have a one-point advantage in the standings.  In a strange twist of fate both Sabr and Ikhlas have identical schedules.  Each facing Emaan, having a bye and squaring off against each other to end the season.  Perhaps today might be the better week to face off Emaan as their Top Two and league leading scorers in Waqar Khan and Zaid Toorawa are unavailable. With the bulk of their points suddenly gone from their lineup Emaan the goals must come from somewhere.  So expect Furqan Salam, Umair Awan and Jibran Salam to take on this responsibility.  Ikhlas will also have some key pieces missing as Shehryar Khan and Zayd Agjee are both unavailable.  Shehryar Khan is pretty much the Ikhlas offense but with him gone and considering what is at stake someone else will need to step up.  Farooq Sani has a flair for the dramatics and lives for these moments.  It would be a safe bet that he would factor in this game somehow.  No word who will be in net for Ikhlas. As per league policy since they have already used a backup goalie twice this season, so they can only recall Sheraz Mahmood. Or maybe they throw a curve ball and we get to see Usamah Rao go back in net.  This game also has some significance for Emaan as they try to make one last push in over-taking Ihsan in the standings to grab first place.

Haya vs Yaqeen:
Haya and Yaqeen get a first look at each other tonight. Yaqeen is coming off an impressive beat-down of Ikhlas last week whereas Haya suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Shukr in the last minute. Both of these teams can still finish first or second overall and more importantly by-pass the quarterfinals and punch their ticket to the semi-finals.  Most probably the loser of this game throws away any realistic chance for a first round bye.  On the other hand, the winner still can keep their hopes alive of trying to surpass either Emaan or Ihsan in the standings. This game will go a long way in determining each team’s road to the championship. In such a high-pressure game you rely on your goaltender to help steal a win for you. Yaqeen’s Yusuf Kapoor who now shares the lead in shutouts will first need to make sure he comes on time and in addition needs to out-duel his counter-part Khalid Mufti, who has faced more shots per game compared to the other goaltenders.

Fall Season - Week Nine - December 2nd

Ikhlas vs Yaqeen:
Stop the presses!  Ikhlas finally won a game!!!  Ikhlas caught a break last week taking advantage of a depleted Shukr roster to notch their first victory.  Shehryar Khan, Week Eight 1st Star seems to be shouldering the offensive load for his team as the offense starts and stops with him.  Chances are if you can contain him then you take away the heartbeat of Ikhlas’ offense.  Also, Zayd Agjee had a successful debut managing to only surrender one goal. He should be prepared to be busier this week against Yaqeen.  Yes, Yaqeen seems to be on a bit of a downward spiral, winless in their last three games (Ihsan, Shukr and Sabr).  However the last time these two teams met Yaqeen went off for four goals with Humza Chaudhry getting the hat-trick. The kid currently shares the goal scoring lead with Waqar Khan of Emaan. So expect him to have a bit of pep in his step as he tries to create some separation in the goal-scoring race with hopes of feasting on the Ikhlas defense one more time.

Sabr vs Ihsan:
Top placed Ihsan faces off against the last place, Sabr.  The last time this scenario played out for Ihsan they let a point slip away against Ikhlas, drawing against them 3-3.  These games are always hard to get up for if you are the first overall team.  Coming into the game you expect it to be an easy day at the office, knowing you probably don’t have to put forth your best effort to come away with the victory.  They shouldn’t look past Sabr as with Friday Night Lights, anything can happen.  Sabr must be feeling the pressure to finally get their first win after seeing Ikhlas pick up their first ‘W’ last week.  Things got a bit tougher for Sabr as goaltender Imran Merchant is no longer with the team (for personal reasons).  Speculations are that Yassir Hussain will be in between the pipes. The veteran net-minder should provide some stability for Sabr placing the onus square on the players in front of him to man-up and get the job done.

Shukr vs Haya:
Both teams enter Week Nine after suffering defeats.  For Shukr they look to avoid losing three straight, where Haya looks to avoid losing two in a row. This is a huge game as a Shukr win will leapfrog them over Haya in the standings into potentially 3rd or 4th overall. The last time these two teams met, Shukr stormed back from three goals down with Arif Bijabhai rescuing his team with four-goal effort. The first overall pick in this year’s draft is in a bit of a scoring slump the last two games. This time around you have to assume Haya’s Naeem Akhtar will be checking him more closely.  If Bijabhai is neutralized expect Haya to extend Shukr’s losing streak to three.  Yet, it if you were drafted first overall it is reasonable to think no one opponent should be able to contain you. Attendance was an issue for both teams in Week Eight.  Given what’s at stake you hope players on both sides recognize the commitment they have for their team-mates. At this point in the season you don’t want to leave points on the table.

Fall Season - Week Eight - November 25

Ikhlas v Shukr:
Is this the week where Ikhlas finally gets win #1?  There is a strong chance because now highly-touted goaltender Zayd Agjee is a part of Ikhlas’ roster, replacing Rahil Ahmed who is done for the season after injuring himself trying to stop Yousuf Soliman of Ihsan on a breakaway.  That said, goaltending was never Ikhals’ problem, it is that they don’t really pose much of a threat offensively.  In their last game they only managed eight shots against Sabr, four in each half.  This week sees Ikhlas facing off against Shukr who were thoroughly embarrassed last week by Emaan, so expect Shukr to be looking for a nice bounce back effort against Ikhlas.  Despite all the talk coming into tonight’s match centered around Agjee, Shukr is having none of that and are looking to spoil his season debut.

Yaqeen v Ihsan:
The two top teams battle to take possession of first overall in the standings.  Yaqeen is coming off a bye week and previously had a set-back against Shukr two weeks back. They had two weeks to prepare for this contest knowing that the top spot would most likely be at stake.  Ihsan on the other hand seem to be on a downward trend. After their impressive victory over Emaan they tied last place Ikhlas and lost to Haya last week. In both of those games Hany Soliman did not tally a goal.  Although Ikhlas has found a way to get offensive contributions throughout the lineup they still need their best players to be their best players. In this weeks matchup of the two best teams Ihsan expects and needs Hany Soliman and Yousuf Soliman to come up with big games tonight.   

Emaan v Haya:
Both teams come in hot. Haya accomplished what no other team has yet been able to do a defeat Ihsan, whereas Emaan were dominant against Shukr. This is a tough matchup to preview as both teams have star power throughout their lineup. Most notable for Haya are players like Aazar Zafar, Hisham Ali, Mehmed Rizvanovic, Naeem Akhter, Nadeem Faqri and Huzaifa Manjra. Emaan also boasts an impressive lineup having the top leading point scorers in Waqar Khan & Zaid Toorawa, Umair Awan, and Furqan Salam. With so much fire power in this game we could see an offensive explosion or we might not as both teams have formidable tenders Haya’s Khalid Mufti and Emaan’s Ahmad Mobin. It will be interesting to see how this game plays out especially since Haya can overtake Emaan in the standings with a win.

Fall Season - Week Seven - November 18th

Week Seven Previews:

Haya vs Ihsan:

This is the first meeting between these two teams. Last week Haya came out victors over Sabr getting a huge performance by Hisham Ali (first star), two goals and one assist.  Because Haya has only played four games, a lot of people don’t talk too much about them.  They have been flying under the radar, but if they are able to get two points tonight they will grab 2^nd overall and be just a point away from the top spot with a game in hand.  For Ihsan they settled for a tie with Ikhlas in the dying seconds in Week Six.  Primarily known for their defense, Sajid Khan and Rayhan Malik are getting it done on both ends of the rink, notching goals in the past two weeks.  Ihsan hopes this offensive support continues as they are looking to keep the "donut" in the L column.

Sabr vs Ikhlas:

Playoffs? You’re talking playoffs? I just want to win a darn game! Well if there is a game to win it would be this one.  Through six weeks, Sabr and Ikhlas are win-less so a win by either one of these teams can go a long way in determining their playoff fate. Rumors are circulating that Yassir Hussain will be in net for Ikhlas tonight as an emergency call-up for the injured Rahil Ahmed.  To have such uncertainty in such as pivotal game that could very well determine their playoff fate must be generating anxiety in Ikhlas land.  In the other net, on some nights Sabr’s netminder Imran Merchant also has a lot of uncertainty surrounding him.  However, what is done is done and both teams just need to be in the moment and focus on this game.  If Merchant can put forth one of his better games tonight and if the Malik's are able to take advantage of a team that just lost their starting goaltender, then expect Ikhlas to remain winless going into Week Eight. 

Emaan vs Shukr:

Shukr comes into tonight’s matchup as the hottest team these two past weeks. They can thank their first overall pick Arif Bijabhai who scored six goals in that span, earning him Week Five First Star and Week Six Second Star.  After being shutout in back to back games, Shukr has recently picked up impressive victories over Haya and Yaqeen. Emaan is coming off a bye week where they had time to process their soul-crushing loss to Ihsan two weeks ago.  These two teams met back in Week One with Emaan walking away with a 2-1 win thanks to Zaid Toorawa.  Since then, Toorawa and Waqar Khan have become a dynamic duo, sitting at 1st and 2nd overall as the league leading scorers.  This time around Shukr is surging and are looking to continue their hot streak and send a message to Emaan to not read too much into the outcome back on Week One. From Emaan’s perspective they must be itching and glad to be back so they can let out their frustration since their loss to Ihsan.  

Fall Season - Week Six - November 11th

Week 6 Previews:

8pm - Ihsan vs Ikhlas:

These two teams first met back in Week One where Ihsan edge Ikhlas by a score of 2-1.  Since then both teams have moved in complete opposite directions. Ihsan now sits first place overall after their come from behind win against Emaan in the final minutes last week.  As for Ikhlas the still haven’t been able to register a point let alone a win.  Ikhlas did make a trade with Emaan, bringing in crafty forward Ali Murtaza in hopes of infusing some life to their team offense. Murtaza is having a rough season and for whatever reason did not fit in well with Emaan’s offensive scheme.  Hopefully the change in environment does him and ultimately his new team some good. The good news is, out of all the games Ikhlas has played so far they were most competitive against Ihsan.  This might be a trap game for Ihsan as there was a lot of hype going into last week’s encounter against Emaan and just the emotional roller-coaster they had coming away with the victory. There could be a letdown with Ihsan after that win and now trying to focus on playing the worse team in the league.  If Ikhlas can get a quick start they can surprise Ihsan and get them on their heels, ultimately securing their first win of the season. 

 

9pm - Haya vs Sabr:

Back in Week 3 these two teams settled for a 2-2 tie.  To provide some context it was Haya’s first game of the season where Sabr was playing their third. Now Haya has had a couple of games to develop team chemistry and should better prepared this time around. With that said they are coming from a crushing defeat at the hands of Shukr. So the Haya camp are probably more than eager to get back onto the floor and keep Sabr from getting their first win. Recently, Sabr has been making gradual improvements as was evident last week by drawing against a strong Yaqeen team 2-2. Although their situation seems more encouraging than Ikhlas at the moment, they are hoping to start seeing the results being reflected in the win column. The have been improving, especially their netminder Imran Merchant; a loss this week for Sabr will be demoralizing and a huge setback for them.

10pm - Shukr vs Yaqeen

These two teams meet back on Week 3 with Yaqeen emerging 3-0 victors. This time around the moment is all with Shukr, who from the will of Arif Bijabhai were triumphant over Haya. There were questions about the validation of him going first overall. But let’s keep it real, for now Haya is no Yaqeen. The expectation is always there for the first overall pick to show up against the top teams. Well, Friday is that night. It is put up or shut up time as a huge night from Arif will silence the critics. However if Shukr’s answer for their rematch against Yaqeen only relies on Arif then they could be in trouble again. 

Fall Season - Week Five - November 4th

8 PM: Shukr vs Haya

This game features two teams trending in opposite directions. Shukr has only one win in their campaign and been shutout in back to back games, first by Yaqeen and then last week by Ihsan.  The goals have suddenly disappeared after exploding for six against Sabr.  At that time it was asked if that game represented an anomaly, where Shukr took full advantage of the circumstances that week.   It seems fair to expect more from the top two picks in this year’s draft in Arif Bijabhai and Idrees Deen as neither are in the Top Five in scoring.  For Haya, they are undefeated so far coming off a phenomenal performance led by Mehmed Rizvanovic.  Rizvanovic with line mates Aazar Zafar and Huzaifa Manjra powered Haya to victory over still win-less Ikhlas.  Shukr is in for a long night if Hisham Ali and Naeem Akhter get going. Factor in that Khalid Mufti is in net for Haya and there is a real risk that Shukr could be shut out three games in a row.

9 PM: Ihsan vs Emaan      

The last time these two teams met,  Emaan had no answer for Ihsan’s Hany Solomon back in Week 2 where Ihsan came away with a 3-2 win.  On that night Ihsan did an exceptional job stifling the Emaan forwards who were held to only five shots the entire 2nd half.  Since that loss Emaan has responded with back to back wins where they outscored their opponents 10-3 with Waqar Khan tallying five goals in that span.  With his hot play, Khan has moved to the top of the scoring leader race while Hany Solomon has cooled off and no longer leads the league in goals.  However Ihsan is more than a one player team on offense as last week they got contributions from Amad Khan and Azim Siddique. Although we are not half way into the regular season the stakes are huge as a loss by Emaan puts a big dent in their hopes for a first place finish.

10 PM: Sabr vs Yaqeen

Although looking at their record, Sabr has shown positive signs of improvement as the season moves along.  They managed to get a tie against Haya and last week were leading Emaan at the end of the first half.  For Sabr they need to maintain their composure as this was their ultimate undoing last week by taking some unnecessary penalties.  Naiem Malik has a plethora of experience to continue to make improvements for his squad to get back on track.  The question for Sabr will continue to be their goaltender Imran Merchant; he has been playing better in comparison to his first few games but he is still a work in progress and needs more time to develop.  If he is able to put it all together and Sabr makes the playoffs then watch out for this team.  This week they face off against Yaqeen who are coming off a bye-week. This is a rematch from Week One which saw Yaqeen emerge as 5-1 victors. Yaqeen forwards in particular are probably anticipating this game as both Sajjid Ayubi and Arslan Mian are no longer the top two in scoring and are motivated to get back to the top of the board.  

Fall Season - Week Four - Oct 28th

Ikhlas vs Haya

Ikhlas continues to swim the murky waters of defeat for another week. Their recent loss comes from the hands of Emaan where the orange shirts beat them silly in a 5-1 drubbing. Ikhlas's struggles have been global. Offence is dismal, defence has got more holes than swiss cheese and goaltending has just struggled. GM Salman Khalid and his squad must step it up this week if they want to verified as serious contenders. Can Ikhlas conquer Haya? Or will Ikhlas add another loss to their already damaged record?

After a two week bye, Haya finally tested the waters in the league and allowed a two goal lead to slip away. Regardless, the grey shirts left the arena with a point in hand and now venture to put Ikhlas through more misery. Haya, a team filled with weathered players didn't fair that bad for their first game and can't face any criticism yet. GM Naeem Akhtar and company won't get a free ride but need to expose green's suspicious defence. Can Haya win their first game this week? 

Emaan vs Sabr

Emaan's regular season expedition has been up and down with many guessing their credibility. GM Furqan Salam's posse rebounded from an Ihsan loss some time back and recently won an explosive five goal beatdown over Ikhlas. This week's opposition is Sabr and keeping age in mind, it's probably fitting to dub this match as, "Battle of the Ages". A win for Emaan notches them in first place alongside Yaqeen. Can Emaan outwit the seasoned roster of Sabr?

Sabr's position on the standings has many bewildered. The yellow shirts started off with and 0-2 record and possibly had many round table discussions relating to their the squad's direction. However, if their previous "never say never" mentality remains consistent then maybe last week's tie game is a building block for a big win this Friday. With the odds heavily favouring against them, GM Naiem Malik has a lot of homework in solving the Emaan camp. Can Sabr match Emaan's hustle? Can Akib Malik lead the team to win #1?

Ihsan vs Shukr

Ihsan puts their unbeaten streak on the line as they face off against Shukr. The Soliman's and associates have been steam rolling the opposition and riding some high waves. Hany Soliman continues to dominate the white shirt's team stats while netminder Zaid Majoo proves that size is everything. The backend here plays a tight game but secondary scoring on this team is absent. How long can Hany Soliman go?  Can Ihsan put the pedal on the metal and drive their winning streak to three?

Shukr has been swaying weekly and recently suffered a nasty loss to Yaqeen. GM Haris Mallick's clan played an outstanding first period but found themselves swimming against the currents of the second period. After a 3-0 loss, Shukr needs a big win this week and anticipate Arssal Shahabuddin and Idrees Deen to get the job done. Goaltender Kaunain Sayied has given his team breathing room each week and also needs a big win to get the team going. Can GM Haris Mallick and his defensive corps halt Hany and company?

Fall Season - Week Three - October 21st

Week 3 Previews:

GAME 1- Haya vs Sabr:

Welcome to the show Haya! Haya eager to finally start their season sees them squaring off against a hungry Sabr team searching desperately for their first win. This is an interesting matchup where on one side you have a team that could be experiencing off-season rust and on the other side there is a team trying to develop some chemistry after being blown out in two straight games. For Sabr, they simply need more from their rookie goaltender, Imran Merchant. For sure he has the raw skills and potential but he needs to develop confidence in himself after a rough start to his I-slam career. However, this is not to absolve the rest of the Sabr team as it has become evident they need to be better in protecting their goaltender. Currently, they rank third overall in shots against, so they really haven’t made it easy for Imran to transition smoothly into the league. This defensive core of Sadat Malik, Luqman Arshad and Naiem Malik will be in tough as Haya has a dangerous offensive threat of Hisham Ali, Aazar Zafar, Huzaifa Manjra and Mehmed Rizanovic. What will be critical for Sabr is to try to catch Haya off guard early in the game and make the game as uncomfortable for a team playing their first game. If Haya’s netminder Khalid Mufti is able to keep the game close in the first half expect Haya to eventually run away with this game.

GAME 2- Emaan vs Ikhlas:

Each team is trying to bounce back from Week 2 defeats. For Ikhlas, similar to Sabr they find themselves down 0-2. Their situation is different, there seems to be no issue with their goaltender Rahil Ahmed as he has kept them in games while being peppered with shots. Unfortunately he can’t score goals. The forwards for Ikhlas haven’t produced much and their defense hasn’t protected their house. Early pre-season previews predicted this team will have difficulties scoring. However the two games they played were against early season favourites of Ihsan and Yaqeen. Perhaps things will change facing off against Emaan who also give up a lot of shots (2nd highest just after Ikhlas). For Emaan, they give up a lot of shots and are also having a hard time generating offense; last week they only had 5 shots on net in the 2nd half. At the moment only Emaan’s Zaid Toorawa and Umair Awan seems to be driving the team bus scoring in 2 straight games. This is quite surprising because out of all the teams Emaan seems to have the greatest depth upfront. With players like Ali Murtaza, Furqan Salam, Waqar Khan, Wakaaz Khan, Adeel Awan and Jibraan Salam, it was expected that this team would be an offensive juggernaut and for the scoring to be more distributed for Emaan. The key for Emaan will try to use their depth upfront and try to break down Ikhlas as the game progresses. Likewise, Ikhlas probably should have a similar game plan and take advantage of the fact that Emaan is among the leaders in shots against and try for once playing with a lead. Both teams need to come in with the mindset that, - “I missed 100 % of shots I didn’t take”.

GAME 3- Yaqeen vs Shukr
Yaqeen has been steam rolling the competition; they simply don’t make any mistakes. Out of all the teams we seen so far (Note- Haya hasn’t played), Yaqeen appears to be the most well-rounded. Yaqeen’s Arsal Mian, Sajid Ayubi are 1 & 2 in scoring, Humza Chaudhry leads the league in goals scored & Faraaz Alvi is top five in goals scored and Yusuf Kapoor is quietly putting together a solid season. Shukr also comes in hot or do they? They doubled up on Sabr 6 to 3 in Week 2. But is this game an outlier that just skewed and padded stats in their favour? What I will say is they did not look too good in the 2nd half when Sabr was able to claw their way back into their game and create a sense of anxiety on Shukr’s bench. To be fair to Shukr was this the case where they were so dominant in the first half and just let their foot off the gas to gave Sabr an opportunity to make a game out of it? We will get a better sense of this Shukr team after this game. However, considering how Yaqeen has played thus far, in my honest opinion, I just don’t see any scenario of Shukr winning this game. Not to say it can’t happen, unfair to Haya, but at the moment Yaqeen (along with Ihsan) seem to be separating themselves from the rest of the pack.

Fall Season - Week Two - October 14th

WEEK 2 PREVIEWS

Game 1 – Ihsan (1-0) vs Emaan (1-0)

Both teams are coming off 2-1 Week 1 victories. Majority of people have pegged Ihsan to win it all as it seems they have a well rounded team. What was remarkable about Ihsan’s performance in Week 1 was their team defense sucked the life out of Ikhlas holding them to only three shots in the first half and 12 overall. Except for one, the shots that were able to get through were steered as side from former ‘Best Goaltender of the Year’ Winner Zaid Majoo. On the other end, Hany Soliman carried Ihsan on his back and torched the 4th overall pick in this year’s draft twice, earning him the 1st Star of the Week. It is pretty impressive that Hany Soliman was able to solve Ikhlas’ defense and superstar goaltender considering that Ikhlas was built from the net out during the draft. If Ihsan can get 2 against that defense, they should in theory be able to victimize Emaan (who were not impressive in Week 1) for a couple more in Week 2. However, Emaan will counter with their former ‘Best Goaltender of the Year’ Winner Ahmad Mobin to keep Ihsan in check. As previously noted, although Emaan won their first game they did not look good. Against Shukr, they went an abysmal 0-5 on the PP, were out-shot 19-15 and even had an own goal. But why be negative, right? They found a way to win- It does not make sense but can’t argue against the final result. With that said, it is hard to envision them having continued success with that type of effort though.

Game 2- Yaqeen (1-0) vs Ikhlas (0-1)

Yaqeen simply out-classed Sabr in Week 1. Sajid Ayubi led the charge and put up 1 G and 2A. A lot of credit should go to Yaqeen’s high powered offense, showing no mercy to Sabr’s rookie goaltender Imran Merchant, but what got lost in their Week 1 victory is they only gave up 11 shots for the game! Yaqeen put up those numbers against a rook in his first game, but now they face Rahil Ahmed (Week 1 3rd Star) and an Ikhlas team that has a defense first mentality. As in the first week, expect Rahil to face a lot of (high-quality) shots and be relied on heavily. There is no doubt Salman Khalid & Yusuf Buttar of Ikhlas will do their part to support their net-minder, but a big question mark for Ikhlas is where is the goals going to come from?

Game 3- Shukr (0-1) vs (Sabr 0-1)

Life sometimes can be unfair- outshot, outworked, outhustle and took the game to Emaan in Week 1 but Shukr had a defensive lapse that cost them at least a point in the standings. A first impression of Shukr is that win, lose, or draw there a team that will make you work. Shukr needs to work on being more discipline as in the first week they had 5 minor penalties, two of them were from the leaders of this team (Arssal Shahabuddin & Idris Deen). Sabr on the other hand needs to forget about the beating they took in Week 1. For their sake, hopefully Akib Malik and Rizwan Malik take the floor this Friday. Perhaps goalie Imran Merchant was a bit nervous last week and now having some time to process things has settled down. Still is it the chicken or the egg or both? Before the ball gets to a goaltender it has to get through the defense. Both teams look to avoid an early 0-2 hole.

Spring Previews: Championship Finals (Series Preview) - May 27th

Emaan vs Haya: (Head To Head: Emaan wins 2-0-0)

Two teams. One mission. In one corner, you have Emaan, a team who've set a precedence as the league's most noisiest offence. Team orange has been a menace this season and has penalized each team on the scoresheet. Their ability to suffocate the opposition in their own zone has been a talent that hasn't been replicated by many teams. They might not be defensively decisive, but have been able to hold their own. This first place squad has every right to flex their guns, but do remember the i-Slam myth:

"No first place team has ever won the championships..."

In the other corner, you have Haya. A team peppered with dynamic players that have braved many storms to reach this point of the spring season. Haya was on a roll earlier this season as this squad toppled anyone that dared to be an obstacle. Then Waqar Khan left for a brief Pakistani stint and for almost a month the team appeared to be writing their own obituary. Haya became a nail-bitter but then the resurgence of Khan revitalized the aura in Haya, and here we are, two wins away from the finish line. Can Haya take it all the way?

Offense:

Emaan's offensive guts has been the infectious line of Al-Hundi-Hindy-Sowdagar. The trio have set record points and have stunned the opposition with their chemistry. Unfortunately, the bus remains stationary past Emaan's first line. Huzaifa Manjara has lit the lamp when feasible, but there was more expectations from first round pick Arif Bijabhai. The lanky sprinter has only 1 point in the last 5 games and needs to get out of this funk. 

Haya has been fortunate to witness offensive avenues as colourful as a plate of biryani, after Waqar Khan that is. This diversity will be key for the blue shirts as Azhar Kalair, Farooq Sani and Azim Siddique will be expected to rise to the occasion. Speaking about Khan, the strapping forward has a mammoth 7 points in his last 4 games and will be on the radar for Emaan. Farooq Sani has also been a heavy broker upfront and will see heavy minutes in the next two games. 

Defense:

Emaan has been tender around the corners when it comes to their defensive coverage. The orange shirts still remain notorious for allowing the most goals and need to add a big piece to assist with Huzaifa Manjara on the blue line. Saqib Sheikh and Madni Danial are meeting the basic criteria; but will these pieces win you a championship? The orange shirts will need defenders that can shadow and out-muscle studs like Waqar Khan and Azhar Kalair.

Neutralizing Emaan's forward will be the theme for Haya, and that's where the experience of Sajid Bhayat plays an orbital role. Reeling in this booksmart defensemen into the locker room was a clever maneuver for Haya. Expect Bhayat to dictate the backend while Farrukh Khan's offensive attention hopefully creates scoring chances for the blue shirts. GM Zuhair Fancy's presence at the blue line adds some welcomed physicality that should disturb Emaan's offensive cohort.

Goaltending:

Khalid Mufti is no stranger to the post season and has been through this phase before. Mufti will be highly counted on stealing games for his crew while shutting down Waqar Khan and company. His playoff experience should be advantageous compared to his rival.

If there's a monumental task for Kaunain Saiyed then it's succeeding in these next two games. Saiyed might not be as experienced as Khalid Mufti but has sold the skeptics with his newly found confidence. Kaunain has been the saviour in previous games and will be expected on holding the fort for his team. 

Whom are you riding with? Can Haya muffle Emaan once and for all? Or will Emaan storm passed Haya with their elaborate and grizzled offence?

Spring Previews - Week Thirteen - May 20th

Emaan vs Ihsan

Emaan had no pity over Ihsan in game one of the semifinals as the orange shirts scraped off team red in a 5-3 decision. Emaan went buck will over Ihsan and hammered Zaid Majoo and company with their "premium" lineup of Al-Hundi-Hindy-Sowdagar. Will Emaan be able to close this series and jump to the finals? How will Emaan respond to the fresh Ihsan roster this week? GM Ibrahim Hindy's squad appeared convincing in their first post season match but will expect a more frenzied effort from Ihsan this week. Huzaifa Manjara's return to the backend provides stability; but how will the remainder of the defensive cast reply? Can Emaan break the haunting first place myth? 

The red shirts could've used some Red Bull last week! Ihsan was tired from their wild card game and just didn't have the gas to survive the volley of attacks by Emaan. GM Fuzail Thakur and company need to exploit Emaan's defence and get producing again. Forwards Ahmad Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri have been shouldering most of the offensive burden and need to elevate their game. Netminder Zaid Majoo faced 21 shots and needs the defensive shielding versus an offensively saturated Emaan team. Will Ihsan be able to neutralize Emaan and own the seats to the finals? Will Salman Khalid and his defensive clique be able to tolerate the orange shirts?

Burning Questions?Which team will reserve their seats to the finals?

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Sowdagar once again punched out a 3 point night.

Player To Watch:

Ahmad Hathout has been the torchbearer all season long. Can he carry this team to the finals?

Haya vs Shukr

This clash was predicted to be a physical battle, and man it was a 10.0 on the richter scale. Haya was outmuscled, outplayed and outshot, yet still pulled off a remarkable win with goaltender Kaunain Saiyed showing no sign of quivering. A sneaky Shoaib Bhatti was found slithering around the net to notch the team's only and winning goal. Haya is 30 minutes away from the promise land and needs to contain those stubborn veterans. GM Zuhair Fancy's team didn't buckle and withstood Shukr's resilience with Azim Siddique and Ozair Naveed sacrificing their bodies on numerous slapshots. Will Haya be able to shock Shukr? Can Waqar Khan exploit Shukr's aging defence?

There was a silent dissatisfaction amongst the Shukr bench. How did they lose to a team whom had no business winning? GM/Coach K has tamed his team well but let's admit it, Haya's goaltender stole that game. On to game two and it's no secret that Shukr will come out of the flood gates thirsty for revenge. Shukr's defence did a great job of shutting down Waqar Khan but unfortunately the remaining backend was permeated at times. Stud goaltender Yasir Hussain has played phenomenal all season long and will have his "A" game on hand this Friday. Can Salim Malik and Aazar Zafar solve Haya? All the marbles are on the table for both teams. Who will be victorious?

Burning Questions?Which team will reserve their seats to the finals?

Who's Hot?

No body for either team.

Player To Watch:

Ali Murtaza has always been an influential player in both ends of the rink. He'll be looked upon to get through Haya.

Spring Previews - Week Twelve - May 13th

Ikhlas vs Ihsan

Ikhlas had a thundering amount of momentum going into there match last week versus Emaan but unfortunately succumbed to their tenacious forwards in a 7-5 drubbing. Regardless, the green shirts have planted themselves in the wild card match and are set to confront Ihsan in a one game wonder. Ikhlas's roster isn't as proportionally balanced as others teams but withhold some pieces that are pivotal facets to winning this nail bitter  Saqib Khokhar and Idrees Deen's arrival has awarded this team a new identity. Humza Chaudhry and Arsalan Mian need to continue their offensive intrusion while Junaid Mohammad and Haris Mallick turn on the engines in the backend. Will Yusuf Kapoor be able to get his squad through this wild card game?

Ihsan suffered a jolting experience against Shukr last week. The red shirts were cornered in their own zone for most of the time and fell victim in a 4-1 spanking. Ihsan's narrative has been intriguing yet dramatic. Team red experienced many trials and tribulations all season long but managed to align their mission once Zaid Majoo set foot in the roster. Akin to Ikhlas, the notion of this squad making it to the wild card match was preposterous, but here they are! Expect Ahmed Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri to put the opposition under stress while Salman Khalid and GM Fuzail Thakur endure the onslaught of speed from Ikhlas's forwards. Will Zaid Majoo be able to handle the barrage of shots from the green shirts?  

Burning Questions?
Which team will win the wild card match and face Emaan?

Who's Hot?

Humza Chaudhry has attained some serious numbers and sits within the top five amongst scoring leaders.

Player To Watch:

Expect Ahmad Hathout to pull all the rabbits from the hat against Ikhlas. The brawny forward will need to provide some offensive punch in getting the red shirts through the night.

Haya vs Shukr

Haya faced a skeleton roster of Sabr and laughed away the night in a 6-1 beating. GM Zuhair Fancy's team wasted no time in dehydrating the opposition and bidding them a final farewell as Sabr was eliminated from any playoff anticipation. Earlier in the season, there was a concern where the avenues of scoring would originate from. Well, judging from their stats there's no ceiling for Haya when offence is concerned. Waqar Khan, Farooq Sani and Azhar Kalair will need to be the gateways in getting Haya through the first game jitters. Farrukh Khan and Sajid Bhayat must be A1 in the backend while netminder Kaunain Saiyed looks to silence Shukr's lethal weapons. Will Haya be able to overthrow Shukr? 

There's a heap load of depth in Shukr, but it doesn't mean that their unbeatable. Shukr has had a few bad games but when they've clicked it's been absolutely bruising for the opposition. Despite having a wiser roster, GM Kashif Taqiuddin's squad will make sure Haya endures a taxing experience. Unlike Haya's reserve of offence, Shukr has been blessed with many arms that can score and defensive studs that will regret you pondered the thought of crossing the blue line. Salem Malik, Aazar Zafar and Ali Murtaza will be the key guys that will interrogate Kaunain Saiyed while buddies Luqman Arshad, Sadat Malik and Naiem Malik barricade Yasir Hussain. Will Shukr's experience counter Haya's speedy forwards? 

Burning Questions?
Which team will draw first blood and win game one?

Who's Hot?

Saleem Malik has been on fire with his offensive production. The resilient forward will be on the radar for Haya.

Player To Watch:

Waqar Khan is always the player to watch. Khan will be the focal point of the night for Shukr.

Emaan vs TBD

The orange shirts put a smackdown on the kids of Ikhlas as GM Ibrahim Hindy and company marched off the arena floor in an assuring 7-5 win. Emaan will eagerly await to discover who their foes are as the winner of the wild card game catches their breath to battle Emaan. Nonetheless, Emaan has had the number of both Ikhlas and Ihsan yet have faced adversity with the two in the recent half of the season. GM Ibrahim Hindy, Yousuf Sowdagar and Gehad Al-Hundi have had a record year with their stats and will be a behemoth versus Ikhlas or Ihsan. As mentioned before, the only thing that'll sting Emaan's rear end is their defence. The orange shirts have the most goals for and coincidently permitted the most goals against. Emaan will need to cover the defensive gaps if their agenda is the the championships. Will Arif Bijabhai get back on the scoresheet? Will Emaan conquer the first game?

Burning Questions?
Which team will draw first blood and win game one?

Who's Hot?
Emaan's first line of course. They've been unprecedented and tough to contain.

Player To Watch:

Goaltender Khalid Mufti has had a decent season and will be keen on getting by the first round.

Spring Previews - Week Eleven - May 6th

Sabr vs Haya

Sabr's quest for claiming that wild card match is over. The final nail in the coffin was stamped last week as Haya beat team teele in a 3-1 decision. A short bench, injuries and unavailable players have been the ingredients to Sabr's disappointing season. With Haya on deck for the teele shirts again this week, the relevance for this game will to be closes out the season on a strong note. Captain Yousuf Soliman will try to pry this squad's talent in winning this final game before walking away in the sunset. Can Sabr get the job done this time?

After losing four games straight, Haya revived their winning groove with a monumental win over Sabr. The blue shirts seemed more settled and capitalized on Sabr's rushed efforts. Without Khan, the blue shirts were dropping games at a drastic rate and presented an effort that was a far cry from how they defeated some big teams earlier in the season. Haya concludes their regular season with a rematch of Sabr and will attempt to tally another win for the standings. A win versus Sabr would net Haya a comfy spot in the standings. Can Haya own Sabr?

Burning Questions?
Can Sabr finish the night with a big win?

Who's Hot?

Azhar Kalair scored two goals last game and has supplied some excellent offense for his squad.

Player To Watch:

Sajid Khan has been a beast on the backend and always displays a relentless effort. Will Khan be able to shadow Waqar Khan?

Ikhlas vs Emaan

Ikhlas pulled off a character win last week as they shocked the I-Slam fanfare with a convincing win over Emaan. This will be a team to watch out! Their young guns came through, defenders Haris Mallick and Waseem Kalair also made life unbearable for Emaan's first line while playing valuable minutes in the backend. Once again, Idrees Deen came out smelling like roses and plagued the Emaan defenders with trouble. Saqib Khokhar continues to shine and left with the last laugh as his former team were left scratching their heads. Will Ikhlas be able to out-hustle Emaan again?

Emaan wants that game back from Ikhlas last week. The orange shirts left dazed and lost to the green shirts by a head scratching 4-2 score. Emaan's defence is hurting them and last game seemed like their backend was held by pins and needles. Team orange plugged away but Ikhlas had an answer for everything including 3 botched power plays, we'd expect Emaan to light the lamp at least once. You can bet that Emaan will come out stronger than ever this week an will demonstrate why their the first place team. Can Emaan turn it around this week versus Ikhlas?

Burning Questions?

Will this week wake up Arif Bijabhai? The goliath has been pointless in his last three games.

Who's Hot?

Abdul-Rahman Buttar had a huge night last week. The nimble player left the rink on a three point night.

Player To Watch:

Goaltender Yusuf Kapoor has matured as a goalie and made some jaw dropping saves in a authentic 4-2 win.

Ihsan vs Shukr

The upward surge continues for Ihsan with the red shirts feeding off a shortened Shukr bench for a 1-0 win. Believe it or not but netminder Zaid Majoo's presence to the Ihsan camp was a huge shot in the arm. This ain't monkey business for Ihsan, the red shirts are riding high on a four game unbeaten streak and look to add another feather in that winning cap. Ahmed Hathout and Nadeem Faqiri will need to continue haunting Shukr's defence while Salman Khalid and GM Fuzail Thakur mind the blue line. Will Majoo crank out another win?

The word was that Shukr was missing six players last game but still managed to keep the score down to a 1-0 loss, not bad. The blue shirt's depth has been the main factor to why they exist in every game. Players like Aazar Zafar and Ali Murtaza bring that effort and grizzle that has Shukr breathing for survival in every game. With GM Kashif Taqiuddin out of the roster, in comes veteran Naiem Malik to mind the blue line with the likes of Luqman Arshad and Sadat Malik. A win combined with a Haya loss would curtain Shukr at second place. Can stalwart Yasir Hussain silence Ihsan?

Burning Questions?

Will Ihsan be able to prolong their unbeaten streak?

Who's Hot?

It might've been a mere goal but Salman Khalid is Ihsan's marquee defensman. 

Player To Watch:

Saleem Malik has no off switch. The determined forward has been a big arm for offensive production.

Spring Previews - Week Ten - April 29th

Shukr vs Ihsan

Revenge is wonderful. Don't believe me, ask the Shukr clan. The blue shirts have a revolving door with offensive production, which is a beautiful thing. This week Faisal Mehboob and Rehan Lakhani stepped up their game and gave a reason for Shukr to pound their chest in a 2-1 final. GM Kashif Taqiuddin and Luqman Arshad continue to be massive supporters to the team's transition game. It's Ihsan this week and the red shirts are red hot. Shukr's conviction proves that they're the real deal and have boiled some respectable wins all season long. Can Shukr solve Zaid Majoo and company? 

Ihsan played a teetering game versus Emaan last week and the result was a 4-4 tie. This match was the litmus test the red shirts needed. Netminder Zaid Majoo's entry to the squad has truly altered the outlook for Ihsan. But that isn't the only thing ticking the clock for team red. Ahmad Hathout has remained consistent with production, Nadeem Faqiri has made an impact with his offensive prowess and even Amir Multani finally managed to find the back of the net. Ihsan's defence is decent enough to carry its own weight; but are they seasoned enough to compete with Shukr? 

Burning Questions?

After giving Emaan a rough time; can Ihsan beat Shukr?

Who's Hot?

Ahmed Hathout didn't light the lamp last week but definitely played pivotal minutes with a 3 assist night.

Player To Watch:

Ali Murtaza has always been an instrumental player in both zones of the rink. He'll be looked upon to get through Ihsan.

Ikhlas vs Emaan

Despite being caged in their own end last week, Ikhlas dug deep in the final minute of the game and left the arena with a big sigh of relief in a 1-1 draw. There's still a glimmer of hope that the green shirts can salvage the season and qualify for that wild card seed. Junaid Mohammad, Haris Mallick and Idrees Deen have been the pulse for this squad as all have resurrected the green shirts with their hard work and leadership. Ikhlas can give Emaan a run for their money, but the they'll need to bring their nimble legs and a lot of gatorade to get through the orange wall. Will Ikhlas be able to neutralize Emaan?

Emaan met Ihsan for their second tilt of the season and eventually discovered that these dudes weren't duds anymore. The orange shirts spent the night exchanging pleasantries but surprisingly settled in a 4-4 tie game. Every team has had difficulties trying to solve Zaid Majoo, and yet Emaan struggled again. Last week's result doesn't blemish Emaan's record but further exploits their dubious defence, which Ihsan filtered through easily. GM Ibrahim Hindy's troops might be miles ahead over Ikhlas's offence but Ikhlas's back end has a marginal upper hand. Will Emaan be able to own the green shirts? 

Burning Questions?

Can Ikhlas handle the firepower of Emaan's first line?

Who's Hot?

Yousuf Sowdagar has been beast, netting 4 points in his last game.

Player To Watch:

Idles Deen's entry to Ikhlas has been a day and night feeling. He'll definitely be looked upon to notch Ikhlas their third win.

Haya vs Sabr

There's a cause for concern for Haya as the window to the post season is slowly fading away. GM Zuhair Fancy and company will be on high alert as the blue shirts face Sabr for a two game series. Haya has been victim of four consecutive losses and need to make some noise again. The blue shirts recently fell victim to Shukr and now get their staff prepared for a hellbent Sabr team. Farrukh Khan and Farooq Sani will most likely be utilized to the max as Azim Siddique leads the upfront charge. Will Haya be able to thwart off Sabr's offensive bursts?

Sabr spent most of the night in Ikhlas's zone but croaked on a last minute effort by the green shirts only to the leave the arena with a point in hand. A win would've been beneficial for GM Salman Alvi's team but something is better than nothing. The teele shirts can put Haya on their heels with a win, but that's contingent on how Sabr's troops click with one another. The weekly shortened benches haven't been able to concoct any chemistry with players. Team teele has to come out strong from the get go and need the Soliman's to light the lamp. Will Sabr be able to inch the standings?

Burning Questions?

Both teams are at the brink? Which team will come out victorious?

Who's Hot?

No one on either team.

Player To Watch:

Goaltender Kaunain Saiyed started the season off on a strong note but has softened up thus far. Will he be able to get his team out of this slump?

Spring Previews - Week Nine - April 22nd

Haya vs Shukr

Haya's hit some rocky patches lately and was muted by a 3-0 score, this time from the hands of Ihsan. Losers of three consecutive, the blue shirts will direct their attention to the drawing board and work on getting back on the win column. Last week the team performance versus Ihsan was bleak, the effort level was nonexistent and it appeared that the white flag was raised by the end of the first period. Shukr is next on Haya's agenda and you can bet this squad will be out for vengeance. Last time the two confronted it was Haya reeling out on the winning end. Will GM Zuhair Fancy's team repel Shukr?

One of the league's hottest team just got a bucket of water poured over them. Shukr went stride for stride with Emaan but couldn't crank out a win against the league leaders. GM Kashif Taqiuddin's team still remains on the higher end of the spectrum and has the experience on limiting the opposition. Luqman Arshad and Sadat Malik have been the pivotal players on the blue line while Saleem Malik leads the offensive cohort. This team might be an old bunch of dinosaurs, but like I said before, they still have the bite. Can Haya sweep the season series versus Shukr?

Burning Questions?

Will Haya's offence wake up this week? 

Who's Hot?

GM Kashif Taqiuddin has got 6 points in his last 4 games. 

Player To Watch:

Known for patented snapshot, Azhar Kalair shoulders oodles of much needed wisdom to his team. Let's see if he can jolt up the troops and squeeze out their "A" game.

Emaan vs Ihsan

Another day at the office, another win. What else is new for Emaan? GM Ibrahim Hindy and company stay perched atop the standings and are riding on a three game win streak. Emaan matched well with Shukr last week as both teams alternated chances, however; it was Emaan accumulating the two points in a 3-1 win. Emaan's been through this drill before with Ihsan. As a matter of fact, a previous 6-2 beat-down should be an indication of what could be on team red's weather forecast. Emaan continues to suffocate the opposition in their own zone while their first line chips away at scoring opportunities. Will Emaan treat this game as a walk in the park?

After failing to seal the deal for six games, you'll be elated to know that Ihsan finally got their first win. The victory couldn't have been more appropriate as Ihsan clawed back into playoff contention with a 3-0 drubbing of Haya. Goaltender Zaid Majoo "officially" made his debut for Ihsan and must echo that feat henceforward, especially with Emaan being their next match-up. The red shirts haven't forgotten the reality check Emaan administered last time, it was brutally embarassing. However, with Ahmad Hathout rekindling his scoring prowess and Salman Khalid playing top notch blue line minutes it could be a different fate. Can Ihsan stretch their win streak to two?

Burning Questions?

Can Ihsan put a freeze on Emaan's winning streak?

Who's Hot?

As declared in his player of the game interview, Zaid Majoo doesn't seemed concerned about the remnants of the league. Majoo's three shutouts this season has reinforced his statements; but is he the real deal? When asked about Emaan, Majoo replied, "Don't worry about it?"

Player To Watch:

Yusuf Sowdagar continues to cause havoc and has totalled 23 points in 7 games.

Ikhlas vs Sabr

Ikhlas planted a pylon on Sabr's playoff hopes by defeating the teele shirts with a convincing 3-1 win. The win inches the squad up the standings and marks the team's first "real" win, as opposed to the open net win they achieved earlier this season. Ikhlas pounced on Sabr's diminutive roster and had Humza Chaudhry and Arsalan Mian crank out crucial goals that ultimately landed Sabr in the deep end of the standings. If Ikhlas can maintain that same level of jump than eradicating Sabr will be easier than stealing candy from a baby. Can Yusuf Kapoor steal another game for his clan?

Sabr's loss to Ikhlas has got them against the wall, and they have no one to blame but themselves. GM Salman Alvi's group couldn't weather the Ikhlas tides and succumbed to a nasty 3-1 loss. Luckily for how the schedule is planned out, fate has permitted them a chance to redeem themselves this week and snatch forth place. Sabr has only one victory to show for this season and has struggled with manning a full squad each week. If the teele shirts are serious about getting to the promise land than a serious performance is required this week. Will Sabr be able to match the legs of Ikhlas?  

Burning Questions?

Can Sabr overthrow Ikhlas?

Who's Hot?

Humza Chaudhry had two goals to place his team back into playoff contention. 

Player To Watch:

Sajid Khan has been a force in the backend, his tenacity will be essential this week.