Five expats in Pakistan`s football squad for Asiad

E-Paper | May 03, 2026

A 24-man squad of probables for the upcoming Asian Games is currently undergoing training in Lahore. —File photo by Fahim Siddiqui/White Star

LAHORE The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has included Denmark-based brothers Yaqoob and Yousuf Butt in the national U-23 camp, set up in preparation for the 16th Asian Games.

The Games will be held in Guangzhou, China, from Nov 12 to 27. The camp is in progress at the Punjab Stadium and Model Town Football Academy ground with players being accommodated at FIFA House hostels.

Yousuf used to play as goalkeeper in Danish first division for the Copenhagen's Hellerup IdrÃ¦ts Klub.

His elder brother, Yaqoob, was born in Canadian and currently plays for the Jaegersborg BK Club as defender.

Besides the brothers, other Pakistanis who are living in Europe and selected in the camp are Shani Qayum (Sheffield Wednesday Youth), Atif Bashir (Barry Town) and Faraz Ahmed (Nottingham).

Following are the 24 probables in the Asian Games camp

Goalkeepers Amir Gul (NBP), Jaffar Khan (Army), Yousuf Butt (Hellerup IK, Denmark).

Defenders Haider Ali (Wapda), Umer Farooq (KESC), Samar Ishaq (KRL), Ahsanullah (PEL), Aurangzaib (HBL), Mohammad Ahmed (Wapda), Atif Bashir (Barry Town), Yaqoob Butt (JÃ¦gersborg BK, Denmark).

Midfielders Mehmood Khan (KRL), Yasir Afridi (KRL), Mohammad Adil (KRL), Mohammad Tauseef (Islamabad), Abbas Ali (NBP), Faisal Iqbal (NBP), Mohammad Rashid (PEL), Zainullah (Wapda).

Strikers Kalimullah Khan (KRL), Rizwan Asif (KRL), Saddam Hussain (NBP), Shani Qayum (Sheffield Wednesday Youth), Faraz Ahmed (Nottingham).

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