Pakistan announces squad for FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia — Dawn
The Pakistan Football Federation has announced a 23-player squad for the FIFA ASEAN Cup, which will take place in Indonesia from September 25 to October 5. National team head coach Nolberto Solano will join the team directly in Indonesia, as he was unable to attend the training camp in Islamabad due to a visa delay.
As Dawn reports, according to the publication's sources, Solano did not receive his Pakistani visa in time because he applied under the wrong category. After the error was discovered, the Pakistan Football Federation resubmitted the documents, but the process was delayed. In the head coach's absence, the team's camp was led by his assistants Titus Bramble and Waleed Javaid.
Team squad
Abdullah Iqbal will be the national team's captain, while experienced forward Kaleemullah has returned to the national side. The squad also includes Pakistan U-17 captain Abdul Samad from Swat, who recently signed a two-year contract with Azerbaijani champions Qarabag.
In April, Samad represented Pakistan at the UEFA U-16 Development Tournament in Kazakhstan. There, he captained the team and scored a header in the match against the hosts. The squad also includes national-team players based abroad.
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Group opponents
Pakistan have been placed in Division 1 Group B alongside Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. The team will begin the tournament with a match against Thailand on September 26, play the Philippines on September 29, and face Vietnam on October 2.
Pakistan Football Federation president Syed Mohsen Gilani visited the training camp at Jinnah Stadium in Islamabad. In a PFF video, he said that the Pakistani team would play against opponents significantly ahead of it in the rankings. Gilani also said that conditions at Pakistan Sports Board facilities were inadequate, so the team's training venue was changed.
Pakistan received a place in the tournament's inaugural edition after China withdrew due to preparations for the 2027 Asian Cup and the 2030 World Cup qualifying cycle. Earlier this year, the team won the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives, ending a 74-year wait for a title.
