The Pakistan national football team is leaving for the Maldives via Colombo on May 30 to take part in South Asian Football Federation (Saff) championship from 3-14 June 2008. The 20-player squad will take flight of PIA (PK 305) from Lahore on 30th May at 6 PM.
After a brief stop-over at Karachi, Sri Lankan Airlines Flight UL 144 will carry Zahid Hameed-led Pakistan squad to Colombo from Karachi's Jinnah Terminal at 11.55 PM on same day. The Saff championship, known as World Cup for South Asia, will be comprised of four-times champion India, 2003 gold medallist Bangladesh, Pakistan, 1995 champion Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan and Afghanistan.
The Group-A matches will be played in National Stadium, Male under Football Association of Maldives (FAM), while Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL) will host Group-B clashes in Sugathadha Stadium, Colombo. The final too will be played in Colombo.
According to Camp Commandant Bilal Butt, Pakistan will collide with Maldives in their opening match in the Group-A encounter at Male on 3 June 2008, followed by matches against India (5 June) and Nepal (7 June). The Colombo-based Group-B is consisting of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Bhutan.
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has approved new-look side with emphasis on strengthening midfield and wing-full backs section, calling four foreign-based players Atif Bashir, Zeeshan Rehman, Adnan Ahmed and Kashif Siddiqui. "Pakistan is drawn in Group A, the group of death for sure! One of the best teams in South Asian Football would be knocked out of the event from this group before semis. It will be uphill task to face four-time gold medallist India and energetic host Maldives while Nepal is always strong.
Our national team overwhelmed Nepal in Pokhara Series last March and finished second in April's AFC Challenge Cup (Group-A). I hope gold from Colombo on 14 June as I have full faith on my boys, "said Faisal Saleh Hayat who is currently in Sydney for 58th Fifa Congress.
"Current National Champions Wapda and nine-times national title holder PIA provided four players each while three players belong to Khan Research Laboratories. NBP's share is of two players while Pakistan Navy, Pakistan Army, Afghan FC had given one player each. To make up the numbers, four foreign players will tie up with 16 domestic players," said Bilal who is also AFC AID-27 Coach.
PAKISTAN'S SQUAD:
Goal-keepers (2): Syed Sultan Ali, Bilal Rafiq (PIA), Defenders (7): Samar Ishaq, Muhammad Ahmed (KRL), Naveed Akram (Wapda), Muhammad Imran (Army), Zeeshan Rehman (Queen's Park Rangers), Muhammad Irfan, Nasr Ullah Khan (PIA), Midfielders (8): Farooq Shah, Abdul Aziz (NBP), Adnan Farooq Ahmed (Tranmere Rovers), Atif Bashir (Haverfordwest County AFC), Jadid Khan (Afghan FC, Chaman), Vice Captain Imran Niazi (Wapda), Skipper Zahid Hameed (Wapda), Kashif Siddiqi (Presbyterian College, South Carolina, USA), Strikers (3): Arif Mehmood (Wapda), Muhammad Qasim (KRL), Asif Mehmood (Navy).
Officials: Akhtar Mohiuddin (Coach), Muhammad Habib, Sajjad Mehmood (Assistant Coaches), Noman Ibrahim (GK Coach), Kamran Mehdi (Physiotherapist).
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