ISLAMABAD, June 18: Pakistan take on Sri Lanka in the inaugural match of the second Asian Central Zone Men’s Volleyball Championship which opens here on Tuesday at the Pakistan Sports Complex.

Besides hosts Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Turkmenistan, Iran and defending champions Kazakhstan are participating in the June 19-25 contest being organised by the Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF).

Mohammad Zaman leads a 12-member Pakistan squad, which also includes Irfan Nawaz, M. Tariq Wasim, Kashif Mansoor, Mohib Rasool, Sayyab, Naseer Ahmed, Ali Abbas, Mohammad Riaz, Bakhat Rasal, Mohammad Ismail and Sanaullah.

Two other matches are scheduled to be played on the first day ahead of the Pakistan-Sri Lanka clash. Defending champions Kazakhstan will face Turkmenistan while India take on Iran.

Arch-rivals Pakistan and India will face off in the first match on day five when Maldives lock horns with Iran and Kazakhstan play Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, the PVF chief Chaudhry Yaqoob said the federation would provide financial assistance to players by launching professional league volleyball for the first time in Pakistan.

Under the talent hunt programme, Yaqoob further stated the PVF is training players on modern lines, providing all the crunch facilities to them. Also, this year six training camps will be held at various spots in Pakistan to promote the game and groom youngsters.

Askari Bank is title sponsor of the event with Ufone, Pakistan Sports Trust (PST), National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) as co-sponsors.

Schedule:

June 19: Kazakhstan v Turkmenistan (12:00 noon); India v Iran (2:00 pm); Pakistan v Sri Lanka (4:30pm).

June 20: Kazakhstan v Maldives (1:00pm); Iran v Sri Lanka (3.00pm); Pakistan v Turkmenistan (5:00pm).

June 21: India v Sri Lanka (1:00 pm); Maldives v Turkmenistan (3.00pm); Pakistan v Iran (5.00pm).

June 22: Sri Lanka v Maldives (10.00am); Iran v Turkmenistan (3:00pm); Kazakhstan v India (5.00pm).

June 23: Iran v Maldives (1.00pm); Kazakhstan v Sri Lanka (3.00pm); Pakistan v India (5.00pm).

June 24: Pakistan v Maldives (1.00pm); India v Turkmenistan (3.00pm); Iran v Kazakhstan (5.00pm).

June 25: Turkmenistan v Sri Lanka (1.00pm); India v Maldives (3.00pm); Pakistan v Kazakhstan (5.00pm).—Agencies