PFF recalls eight overseas players

Yousaf, Irfan to bolster squad for AFC Cup.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has recalled eight overseas players including discarded Yousaf Butt and Irfan Khan in a bid to strengthen the squad before the AFC Challenge Cup starts from March 21 in Kuala Lumpur.

“We prefer the experienced players for such a high profile tournament along with the younger lot,” said Pakistan football coach Tariq Lutfi after dropping Khan and Butt last month because they failed to impress in Pakistan’s first Olympic qualifier against Malaysia.

“It’s not like we have left out the youngsters and preferred seniors.”

The AFC Challenge Cup tournament is meant for the countries, including Pakistan, classed as emerging associations that need development and growth in the sport. Pakistan will take on Turkmenistan on March 21, India (March 23) and Taipei (March 25) in their Group B encounters of 4th AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur.

Lutfi deemed his pool, Group B, tricky and tough. “Surely both are tough opponents but our squad has the ability to outclass any opponent in our pool.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2011.