KARACHI: Former England under-20 defender Easah Suliman has opted to play for Pakistan at senior level, the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee announcing on Thursday that FIFA had approved the change in the centre-back’s national eligibility.

The 25-year-old Suliman was once one of the brightest young talents in English football and beacame the first player of Asian heritage to lead an England side. A product of the Aston Villa academy, he now plays for UD Vilafranquense in Portugal’s second-tier on loan from top-flight Vitoria Guimaraes.

Suliman is likely to make his debut for Pakistan in next month’s SAFF Championship in India.

Published in Dawn, May 19th, 2023