PFF awaits NOC for SAFF U16 Championship [Geo Super]

PFF awaits NOC for SAFF U16 Championship [Geo Super]

by Faizan Lakhani

KARACHI: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Normalisation Committee (NC) is currently awaiting No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the upcoming SAFF U16 Championship in Bhutan.

The PFF has requested the federal government to issue the NOC as soon as possible.

The PFF had applied for NOC in the first week of August. The NC had also replied to some of the objections raised by the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on August 16.

Meanwhile, Director General PSB Shoaib Khoso has said that the NOC is in process and will be sent to the PFF once it is approved by the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination.

It must be noted that the issuance of NOC is a recurring problem faced by the PFF since the same happened with the national men’s and women’s team in the recent past.

The Pakistan U16 squad has to leave for Bhutan on Tuesday, August 29.

Pakistan are in Group B alongside hosts Bhutan and Maldives. Meanwhile, Group A includes India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

As per the announced schedule, Pakistan will kick off their campaign against the home side, Bhutan, on September 1 at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu.

The Green Shirts will face the Maldives on September 3 at the same venue, with the top two teams qualifying for the semi-final stage. The SAFF U16 Championship will end on September 10.

Pakistan squad

Defenders:

Abdul Rehman, M. Husnain Saleem, Najeem Khan, Sameer Ahmed, Ubaid Ullah Khan, Majid Ali, Syed Muhammad Aabis Raza and Umar Javed

Midfielders:

Abdul Samad, Muhammad Faraz, Farhad, Haroon Rashed, Hikmat Ullah, Khobaib Khan, M. Shahab Ahmed and Muhammad Khan

Forwards:

Abdul Ghani, Husnain Wali Raza, Subhan Karim and Syed Kabir Ali Shah

Goalkeepers:

Aadil Ali Khan, Balach Khan and Ghulam Abbas

Published in Geo Super, 26 August 2023