Pakistan football team will take on Maldives in friendly match

• Pakistan’s professional football squad will play Maldives in an international friendly match.
• In the past three and a half years, Pakistan has only participated in one second game.
• They are prepared for the contest, according to Pakistan’s head coach Shehzad Anwar.

Pakistan’s professional football squad will play Maldives in an international friendly on Tuesday (today) in Laamu, Gan, Addu City’s southernmost island.

The programme, which will begin at 3:45pm, is scheduled to feature the young Pakistan team challenging the seasoned Maldives. The Green-shirts practised at Gan’s main venue, where both nations would meet on Tuesday, as soon as they arrived at Gan on Monday after spending a day in Male.

In the past three and a half years, Pakistan has only participated in one second game. In a friendly match against Nepal during the close of the previous year, Pakistan made their return to the international stage.

They are prepared for the contest, according to Pakistan’s head coach Shehzad Anwar.

“”All of the players are fit, in good shape, and motivated,” Shehzad told The News on Monday from Gan. “We trained today after arriving here. The turf on which we practiced was wonderful, and I’m hoping for a nice match.”

Mohammed Habib and a handful of Brazilians who also worked hard during the month-long programme at the City School Lahore are assisting Shehzad.

Due to certain fitness concerns, it is not yet known if central defender Syed Abdullah Shah would be able to participate.

Saqib Hanif, the goalkeeper, will lead the team for the first time. Saqib has been participating in Maldivian leagues for a while and is well-versed in the local game. For the match that is being played during the FIFA window, Umar Hayat will serve as his deputy.

The two countries have faced off against one another ten times so far, with the Maldives winning four and Pakistan winning three, while the other three ended in draws.

The tour will also mark the professional debuts of attacker Abdul Samad from Denmark, midfielder Harun Hamid, 19, from London, and the young Pakistani duo of Mohammad Sufyan and Umar Saeed.

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Abdullah Iqbal and Abdus Samad have officially joined the team in Maldives. #wearepakistanfootball #dilsayfootball #shaheensareback #MDVvsPAK pic.twitter.com/GtfWI5aBOX

— Pakistan Football Federation (@TheRealPFF) March 20, 2023

Abdullah Iqbal, a defender from Denmark, is also included in the group. Last year, Abdullah was put to the test against Nepal.

Due to a commitment from their clubs, both of the players from Denmark arrived late on Sunday and trained with the team on Monday at Gan.

FIFA twice suspended Pakistan during this turbulent time, which started after Pakistan’s international commitment in the spring of 2015. The Pakistani team is currently in the rebuilding phase following years of infighting among numerous parties that held the sport in a standstill.

In order to get the youthful pool, whose average age is 22, ready for this year’s SAFF Cup and World Cup Qualifiers, the authorities are exposing them to various situations. India formally declared on Sunday that it will host the SAFF Cup beginning on June 21.

Before the end of this year, the World Cup qualifiers will take place. Pakistan is anticipated to tour Saudi Arabia following Ramadan as efforts are being made to manage such a deal, after playing the Maldives on Tuesday. Pakistan also intends to make use of the FIFA window in June to adequately prepare the team for the main competitions.

Pakistan was unfortunate not to be able to enter this year’s Asian Games since at the time entries were being finalized for the quadrennial extravaganza, which will be held in Hangzhou in September-October, the nation was under international suspension.

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