KARACHI, Oct 12: Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Wednesday sent a positive signal to Zesh Rehman’s offer to play for Pakistan by contacting Fulham to release their defender for home and away activity late this year.

PFF wrote to Fulham and their manager Chris Coleman to find about his availability and to release the versatile Pakistani origin Birmingham-born defender to play for the national side.

“We have contacted Fulham and their manager today, asking them to release Zesh for November and December. After receiving two e-mails from Zesh and talking to him on the phone in detail twice, we have sent an official letter he is more than welcome here,” said a PPF official.

Rehman, a 21-year-old, who became the first subcontinent player to play top-flight soccer in England by making his Premier League debut in 2004 against Liverpool, had first sent a message on Oct 3, saying he is willing to wear Pakistan jersey.

Last Saturday the defender called up PFF expressing his wish to play for Pakistan. The latest development came after PFF president Faisal Saleh Hayat was briefed about Rehman’s offer.

PFF has intimated Fulham that it will be requiring Rehman’s services for Nov 11 away Asia Cup qualifying round match against Bangladesh and Nov 18 home game against the Bangladeshis which the federation is planning to hold in Karachi.

The Dec 7 to 17 South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) championship to be hosted by Karachi’s People’s Sports Complex is another event PFF would like Rehman to play, making the eight-nation regional competition a big attraction.

“As now we have taken another step to bring Zesh into our ranks by writing to his club, we are determined to field him in Nov 11 away game of Asia Cup against Bangladesh.

“Since we want to provide as much soccer activity to Karachi as we can, we are also planning to have home game of the Asia Cup qualifiers at People’s Sports Complex before SAFF contest. This shows our commitment to give Karachi as much activity as we can. I hope Zesh will be appearing in both the matches apart from SAFF event,” PFF director technical Mujahid Ullah Khan told Dawn.

Following Rehman’s surprise offer, PFF have now opened up its gates for other promising English players of Pakistani descent. Not only Rehman’s offer has been accepted by PFF with open arms, the Pakistani officials have requested the Englishman to rope in as many English-born Pakistani footballers as he could.

“After this surprise offer, we have also asked Zesh to contact and convince other Pakistani descent players in the United Kingdom to play for their country of origin. We hope we will be able to have more talented English players in our side that will certainly give boost to Pakistan soccer.”

According to PFF, Rehman’s parents, who both are Pakistani, are a driving force behind the Englishman’s move. The Pakistani officials hope Rehman would be able to convince more Pakistanis living in the UK to play for Pakistan.