LAHORE, Sept 4: The national women football team will leave here for Colombo via Karachi on Wednesday to take part in South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship scheduled to be held from Sept 7-16.

The national team, led by Sana Mehmood, was forced to hold its training session at the Model Town Ground after the Sports Board Punjab refused to provide the Punjab Stadium to the Pakistan Football Federation.

According to draws, Pakistan has been placed in Group ‘B’ along with Nepal, Maldives and Afghanistan while Group ‘A’ comprises India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and the hosts.

Matches will be played on round robin league basis and winners and runners-up of each group will qualify for semi-finals to be held on Sept 14.

Pakistan will face Nepal in their opener on Sept 8 and Afghanistan on Sept 10 in their second clash. In their last match, Pakistan will face Maldives on Sept 12.

Team:

Sana Mahmood (captain), Hajra Khan (vice-captain), Mahpara Shahid Bukhari (goalkeeper), Nida Awan (goalkeeper), Malika Noor, Roshnan Ali, Nadia Bhatti, Asmara Habib, Asma Usman, Mehwish Khan, Rafia Parveen, Shagufta Akhtar, Humaira Nazir, Afshan Altaf, Shahlyla Baloch, Sohaila Zarrian, Shahida Raza and Mejzgaan Orakzai. Officials: Mohammad Rashid (coach), Kiran Ilyas Ghouri (assistant coach), Subid-e-Gull (physiotherapist) and Uzma Yousuf Zaidi (manager).