Karachi: In a strategic move to strengthen his team ahead of AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifications, Pakistan’s Woman’s Football Team is ready to include more diaspora players in the troop, sources familiar with the selection process told Pakinomist.
The decision reflects management’s push to field a more competitive page in the upcoming tournament.
The preliminary team, which is not yet officially announced, contains six new diaspora players with work experience in European and North American leagues.
British-Pakistani midfielder Layla Banaras, earlier from Birmingham City, and Mariam Mahmood, an attacker for England’s West Bromwich Albion, are among the remarkable inclusions.
AQSA MUSHTAQ, which plays for Greek top division page in Crete and has previous experience in Italy’s Serie A, is expected to strengthen the attack.
The team also includes Canada-based goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj (Northern Colorado Women’s FC/USA WPSL), who previously played in Portugal’s Top League with England-based defenders Marsha Malik (Solihull Moors) and Azwa Chaudhry (West Ham United Youth Team).
A source close to the team choice said: “To bring players with competitive league experience abroad is part of the plan to raise the team’s level before the qualifications.”
The training camp is likely to begin in Islamabad on June 19, when Captain Maria Khan led the preliminary team of 22 player. Pakistan will compete in Group E of the qualifications facing Chinese Taipei (June 29), Indonesia (July 2) and Kyrgyzstan (July 5).
Preliminary teams to camp: Alia Sadiq, Amina Hanif, Anmol Hira, Aqsa Mushhtaq, Azwa Chaudhry, Isra Khan, Jennah Farooki, Layla Banaras, Maria Khan (Captain), Mariam Mahmood, Nadia Khan, Nisha Ashraf, Nizalia Siddiqui, Rameen The Fare Fare The Fare Fare The Fare Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare Himen The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare Himen The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare Himen The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare The Fare Himin The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger The danger the danger freatiqu Khan, Sophiya Qureshi, Suha Hirani, Zeyana Jivraj, Zehmena Malik, Marsha Malik and Zufia Nazer.
