LAHORE, Nov 1: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to give honorarium to nine of its international players from Oct 1 this year, PFF president Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat told Dawn on Tuesday.

Three top internationals Jaffar Khan of Army (captain of national team), Tanvir Ahmed (Wapda) and Essa Khan (Afghan Club, Chaman), will get Rs5,000 per month.

The remaining six players, who will receive Rs4,000 each are Zahid Hameed (Wapda), Atiqur Rehman (KRL), Mohammad Ijaz (Army), Farooq Shah (NBP), Mohammad Imran (Army) and Imran Yasin (Army).

Faisal said that though the amount was small it was a beginning and would hopefully increase in time.

The federation has asked the selected players to submit their bank account numbers so that it could send them their first payment.

He said that according to terms and conditions the honorarium could be stopped for lack of performance or on disciplinary grounds.

Besides, regularity in international matches was also necessary, he added.

He pointed out that the PFF had written to Bahrain, UAE and Qatar asking them to invite Pakistan team and arrange fund-raising matches for Oct 8 earthquake.

Bahrain’s Mohammad Saalim, the assistant coach of Pakistan senior team and senior coach, Salman Ahmad Sharida also of Bahrain were scheduled to arrive in the country on Nov 7 to assist in preparing the team for the SAFF Championship to be held in Karachi next month.

PFF president said that two other coaches of Bahrain Jassim Mohammed Abbas and Khudair Abdulnabi Shamtoot were scheduled to join Pakistan under-17 and youth teams after Eidul Azha.

He said that the youth camp of Pakistan team which is to take part in the AFC qualifying round to be held in Tajikistan next month would be shifted to Islamabad from Lahore on Nov 6.

Pakistan senior team training camp is already in progress in Islamabad for the SAFF Championship.

He said that a series of three trial matches between Pakistan senior and youth teams would be held in Islamabad on Nov 11, 13 and 15 as part of preparations.