ISLAMABAD, Aug 29: The Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) on Wednesday announced the national squad for the 14th Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship, starting on Friday in Jakarta, Indonesia.

According to Secretary PVF, Major Mohammad Afzal, 17 countries including hosts Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Qatar, Taipei, Maldives, Korea, Iran, Vietnam, Pakistan, China, India, Kuwait, Kazakhstan and Austria are contesting in the mega event that ends on Sept 9.

Pakistan will play their first match against Iran before taking on Vietnam on Sept 2. The team winning both the first-round matches will qualify for the next round.

According to the schedule on Aug 31, Iran face Vietnam, Qatar play Taipei, Thailand meet Sri Lanka while Kuwait clash with Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad left for Indonesia on Wednesday under captain Mohammad Zaman Butt.

Squad: Mohammad Zaman Butt (captain), Irfan Nawaz, Syed Ashfaq Hussain, Naseer Ahmed, Farooq Khan, Mohammad Ismail Khan, Sanaullah, Bakht Rasal, Naeem Jan, Kashif Mansoor and Mohib Rasool; Stefan G. Dimitrov (coach), Mohammad Akram, Najam-ul-Hasan Sajid (officials). —Agencies