KARACHI: Pakistan’s U-22 team will play a warm-up match against Pakistan Premier Football League (PPFL) champions Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) on Saturday, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said in a statement on Thursday.

The match will serve as a warm-up for Pakistan team ahead of the Al-Nakba Cup in Palestine which kicks off from May 10. Pakistan are one of five teams taking part in the event.

The Al-Nakba Cup will offer the Pakistan team an opportunity to gel and Bahraini coach Mohammed Al Shamlan a chance to test players before the Asian Games in South Korean city of Incheon scheduled to be held in October.

The match at the City School Sports Complex in Lahore will also provide KRL with vital match practice ahead of the first round of the AFC President’s Cup which will be held in Sri Lanka from May 1 to 11.

KRL face Bangladesh champions Sheikh Russel, Bhutan’s Ugyen Academy and the hosts’ Air Force SC in Group ‘A’ of Asia’s third-tier continental tournament and if they advance from the first round, Tariq Lutfi’s side will secure a place in next season’s AFC Cup — the continent’s second-tier tournament.

“It will give us a good outing ahead of the President’s Cup and hopefully provide our boys with good practise,” Lutfi, whose side might face two of their own players in midfielders Saddam Hussain and Bilawal-ur-Rehman who are with the national squad, told Dawn on Thursday.

On the probability of Saddam and Bilawal joining KRL in their Asian mission, Lutfi was less optimistic.

“I don’t think the PFF or Shamlan want to release them,” he said as he faces a major task to rebuild his squad since the departures of star attackers Mohammad Adil and Kaleemullah to Kyrgyz giants FC Dordoi.

KRL were beaten finalists in last year’s edition of the President’s Cup.