KARACHI, Oct 16: A 19-member Pakistan men and women bridge squad is due to leave for Istanbul (Turkey) on Oct 22 to feature in the World Bridge Olympiad to be held from Oct 23 to Nov 6.

Pakistani shufflers will be appearing in open, women and senior competition in the fortnight championship.

Country's main team Allana consists of A.R. Allana, Jan-e-Alam Fazli, Rashid Jafar, Sarfraz Ahmed, Khursheed Hadi and Kemal Shoaib.

Pakistan senior team have Tariq Rasheed Khan, Akhtar Zaidi, Rashid-ul-Ghazi, Pervez Mirza, Yousuf Talpur and M.A. Ansari.

Zeenat Azwar, Qudsia Dossa, Teeta Agha, Roshan Bukhari, Najama Abid, Mrs Nilofar will spearhead Pakistan women's team.

World Bridge Federation (WBF) has invited Pakistan's Ihsan Qadir as a tournament director for the Olympiad.

This is for the first time that a Pakistani has been appointed in the prestigious event like World Bridge Olympiad.

Secretary of Pakistan Bridge Federation (PBF) will be visiting in unofficial capacity.

Card masters of over 80 countries from across the world will be taking part in the Olympiad.-APP