Pakistan Football Federation chief approves 37 players for National camp

Lahore, March 10, 2011 (PPI): Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has approved 37 players in the build up for Pakistan National Football team for appearance in fourth AFC Challenge Cup qualifier. The winner of the finals will qualify for the 16th Asian Cup at Australia 2015. Pakistan will take on Turkmenistan (21 March), India (23 March) and Chinese Taipei (25 March) in Group-B encounters at Kuala Lumpur.

Asian Football Confederation allowed Pakistan the bye in the Pre-Qualifying Stage in the event that got under way on 9 February with first legs of four play-offs. Based on the rankings of the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup, the eight lowest ranked were drawn into four two-legged ties with the four winners advancing to the qualification proper. All matches are on a home and away basis scheduled. Unlike in previous editions, there will be no automatic qualifiers and holders Korea DPR, runners-up Turkmenistan and third-placed Tajikistan will have to navigate the qualification phase in order to return to the final phase.

AFC approved new format for the 2012 edition which was ratified by the AFC Executive Committee in Kuala Lumpur . All eligible Member Associations will compete in qualifiers (or playoff, if necessary). If there are more than 16 teams, the teams are to play pre-qualifying round (Home and Away).The Qualifying round shall consist of four groups of four teams each. The winners and runners-up from each group (total eight teams) will qualify for the tournament proper. Only the eight qualified teams for the tournament proper can bid to host the finals.

AFC launched the biennial AFC Challenge Cup at Bangladesh in 2006. Tajikistan lifted first edition with a 4-0 thrashing of Sri Lanka in an anti-climax final at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on 16 April 2006. Dzhormikhon Muhidinov notched hatrick while Khurshed Makhmudov added other as Tajikistan displayed superior skill and strength to take absolute control.

Pakistan probables for AFC Challenge Cup: Goal keepers (3): Yousuf Ejaz Butt (Birkerod IF Skjold, Denmark), Amir Gul (NBP), Muhammad Omar (KESC). Defenders (14) : Manzoor Ahmed (WAPDA), Alamgir Khan (Police), Ahsan Ullah (PEL), Obaid Majeed (KPT), Ansar Abbas (Army), Atif Bashir Qureshi (Barry Town, Wales), Reis Ashraf (Buckingham Town FC), Yaqoob Ijaz Butt (Herlev Idrætsforening FC, Denmark), Naveed Akram (WAPDA), Kamran Khan (KRL), Muhammad Ahmed (WAPDA), Muhammad Imran (Army), Samar Ishaq (KRL), Zeeshan Rehman (Muangthong United FC, Thailand)

Midfielders (12) : Faisal Iqbal (NBP), Syed Arif Hussain (WAPDA), Hussnain Abbas (PIA), Muhammad Tauseef (WAPDA), Muhammad Adil (KRL), Mahmood Khan (KRL), Irfan Khan (Bradford Park Avenue Association Football Club, England), Kashif Mumtaz Siddiqui (Fresno Fuego, USA ), Muhammad Waseem (KPT), Abdul Aziz (NBP), Nasr Ullah Khan (PIA), Adnan Farooq Ahmed (Aboomoslem FC, Iran), Strikers (8) : Saddam Hussain (PIA), Fahad Ullah Khan (PTV), Jadeed Khan Pathan (WAPDA), Rizwan Asif (KRL), Kalim Ullah (KRL), Imran Niazi (WAPDA), Arif Mehmood (WAPDA) and Muhammad Qasim (KRL).