LAHORE – The Pakistan Football Federation has named 37 players for the national football team’s appearance in the fourth AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers. The winner of the finals will qualify for the 16th Asian Cup, to be held in Australia in 2015. Pakistan will take on Turkmenistan (21 March), India (23 March) and Chinese Taipei (25 March) in Group B encounters at Kuala Lumpur.
The Asian Football Confederation allowed Pakistan a bye into the pre-qualifying stage in the event, that got under way on February 9 with first legs of the four play-offs. Based on the rankings of the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup, the eight lowest ranked teams 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. Unlike 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.
Probables: Goal keepers (3): Yousof 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 Idr
