LAHORE, Nov 15: Pakistan, the reigning champions of International team and J.R Jayawardene trophies, will compete with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the four-day 45th national amateur golf championship scheduled to be held at the Lahore Gymkhana course from Thursday.

A six-member Iranian women and two-member Indian women team will also compete with in the ladies category.

Except Bangladesh, all other foreign teams have arrived and did practice at the Lahore Gymkhana course. Bangladesh are due to reach on Wednesday.

For the International team trophy, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will contest each other.

For J.R Jayawardene trophy the competition is only between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Secretary Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) Taimur Hasan told a press conference on Tuesday the Pakistan team had the talent and ability to retain both the titles.

Pakistan team comprises Vaqas Ahmed, Muhammad Ali Hai, Tariq Mahmood and Mohammad Safdar Khan.

He claimed, the team was still strong, despite the fact, last year hero Shahid Javed Khan was not available after the player had turned professional.

About 80 golfers from Pakistan are to compete with foreign players for the national amateur title.

In case foreigner wins won, he will take home the title.

On Saturday, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will compete for J.R Jayewardene Trophy.

The top ten Pakistani players, competing in the amateur section are Ansar Mehmood, Waseem Rana, Moeed Yousuf, Imran Ahmed, Mir Maaz Mahmood, Sardar Murad Khan, Murad A Khan, Shafique Bhatti, Imran Zubair and Asif Mehdi.

Teams:

INDIA (Men): Samarjeet Singh, Gaganjeet Bhullar, Manav Dass and Chirgah Kumar.

Women: Vaishavi Sinha and Anup Kaur Bhindra.

SRI LANKA: M Amarapadna, J M D Indica, Mithun Perera, and J J Kumar.

BANGLADESH: Muhammad Saddikur Rahman, M. Sakhawat Hossain Sohel, Muhammad Shahid and Zaman Hossain Mollah.

PAKISTAN: Vaqas Ahmed, Muhammad Ali Hai, Tariq Mahmood, Mohammad Safdar Khan.

IRAN (Women): Firoozeh Mohammad Zamani, Layla Sarbazi, Behnaz Sarbazi and Zohreh Hajobrpour Faridani.