KARACHI: Karachi Port Trust (KPT) attacker Ashfaquddin was named in the Pakistan squad as a replacement for explosive Dordoi Bishkek winger Mohammad Adil as the national football team left for Incheon, South Korea to take part in the Asian Games on Thursday.

Pakistan have been drawn in Group ‘F’ at the Games and will face North Korea and China in their matches of the preliminary round although they will be without Adil.

The former Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) attacker misses the Asiad due to injury which also forced him to sit out during Pakistan’s back-to-back tours of India and Bahrain last month despite travelling with the squad.

Ashfaq wasn’t in the squad for the aforementioned tours but has been drafted in as cover for Adil by head-coach Mohammed Al Shamlan.

“He’s in the squad as a replacement for Adil and will play as a second-striker,” Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Col Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi told Dawn on Thursday.

Ashfaq, who hails from Gilgit, played 13 minutes in Pakistan’s international friendly against Indonesia after coming on as a late substitute in a 4-0 loss in June.

“Ashfaq didn’t impress in his first outing which is why he was dropped for the tours of India and Bahrain but now he’s been brought in as we’re missing a number of players,” Lodhi added.

Pakistan, who are also missing defensive stalwart Faisal Iqbal and midfielder Bilawal-ur-Rehman, open their campaign against North Korea on Sept 18 before facing China four days later with both games to be played at the Hwaseong Stadium.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Ahsanullah, Muzammil Hussain; Defenders: Mohammad Ahmed, Mohammad Sohail, Mohammad Bilal, Ehsanullah, Mohsin Ali; Midfielders: Saddam Hussain, Mehmood Khan, Mohammad Riaz; Forwards: Sher Ali, Mansoor Khan, Mohammad Zeeshan, Kaleemullah, Ashfaquddin.

Officials:

Head-coach: Mohammed Al Shamlan; Assistant coaches: Hasan Baloch, Tanveer Ahmed; Goalkeeping coach: Zahid Taj; Assistant manager: Asghar Khan Anjum.

Published in Dawn, September 12th, 2014