“We are confident of getting Rs2.5 million from the PSB this time because the special grant will ensure survival of the sport.” -Photo by APP

“A request for funds has been dispatched to the sports board's director general Amir Hamza Gilani so that we can prepare the national team for the Asian Games,” he told APP here on Wednesday.

“We are confident of getting Rs2.5 million from the PSB this time because the special grant will ensure survival of the sport, which is largely played in rural parts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces,” he said.

The amount needed for the two training tours, he said, would give good exposure to the national squad.

Afzal, also a former national player, revealed that Pakistan will also participate in the Al-Rashid Cup slated to be held in Dubai in October this year which will be a build-up training programme for the 16th Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou, China, from Nov 12 to 27.”

The team would also participate in the third Asian Central Zone Volleyball Championship, scheduled to be held in Kolkata, India, from Sept 16 to 20. -APP