Pak footballers resume training [The News]

KARACHI: Pakistan’s footballers on Tuesday resumed their preparation for this year’s international assignments at the City School Ground in Lahore.

Pakistan assistant coach Hasan Baloch told ‘The News’ that 22 players had reported for the camp. He disclosed that international midfielder Saadullah was not likely to join the camp because of the death of his father, who had been killed the other day by robbers in Pashin.

“It is really unfortunate. I don’t think Saadullah will join us,” Hasan said. The camp, which is being supervised by Mohammed Shamlan, will last till March 18. Former international defender Tanvir Ahmed and Asghar Anjum are acting as assistant coaches.

Aslam Khan is the goalkeeping coach, while Dr Kamran Mehdi is the physiotherapist.

Pakistan will appear this year in the Under-22 Asian Cup Qualifiers and the Asian Games. The qualifiers schedule is yet to be unveiled. The Asian Games will be held in the South Korean city of Incheon from September 19 to October 4. Pakistan’s entry has been sent for the Asian Games, but the team’s appearance in the continent’s biggest extravaganza is still uncertain because of the conflict between Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) and Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) over the implementation of the national sports policy.