LAHORE: The Uzbekistan rugby team has reached Lahore to feature in two test matches of Asian Rugby Championship Division III-C against Pakistan.

Addressing a press conference here at a local hotel on Saturday, Pakistan Rugby Union President Arid Saeed welcomed the arrival of Uzbek team and hoped that several more international teams will be visiting Pakistan in the near future.

The two-match series of the championship will be played at the rugby academy at Lahore Cantt on April 28 (Sunday) and May 1 (Wedne­sday) at 4:00pm. Asian rugby representative Mathew Cor, Pakistan’s 15-a-side captain Kashif Khawaja, head coach Shakeel Ahmed Malik, executive committee member Salman Muzaffar and service manager Syed Mauzzam Ali Shah were also present during the briefing. The series will be supported by Servis Tyres and DHL, Saeed informed that officials from four countries will be officiating the matches. He further informed that their wish was to conduct the matches at the Punjab stadium but the pitch there not being of an international standard forced them to shift the series to the academy at Lahore Cantt.

Commenting on the stren­gth of Pakistan team for the series, Saeed said that the national team is a blend of talented players picked after trials held at various parts of the country and eight of the players will befeaturing in an international game for the first time.

Kashif hoped their team will qualify for division II after their win over Uzbek team. “PRU is doing its best to raise the game from the grass root level with its players development programme.”

Head coach Shakeel Ahmed said that all the players are fit and raring to go. “I am hopeful the team will deliver as expected after their hard training in the camp.”

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2019