KARACHI, Feb 11: Pakistani sailing team left for Colombo on Saturday to feature in the 2006 World Enterprise Sailing Championship getting underway in the Sri Lankan capital from Sunday.

There was a last minute change in the Pakistani squad as two of the sailors had to be dropped because one of them failed to get leave from his employers.

A Pakistan Sailing Federation (PSAF)official told reporters that the national squad was reduced to four men after one of the sailors pulled out of the event.

Sheharyar Arshad, a former South Asian champion, had to withdraw from the Colombo assignment after his organisation decided against giving him leave for the Feb 12-19 event.

The young Sheharyar works for a bank in Karachi.

His crew Riaz Khan was also omitted from the national team that now includes Mamoon Sadiq, Abdul Hameed, Zahid Rauf and Rana Waqas.

Air Cdre Zafar Yasin (Country Representative) and Cdre Farrukh Mehfooz (Team Manager) complete the national team as officials.—PPI