LAHORE: The Pakistan national polo team departed for Johannesburg, South Africa to participate in the Zone ‘E’ World Cup playoffs from here on Tuesday.

Pakistan have been drawn against archrivals India for the fixtures scheduled for September 9 and 11. Raja Samiullah will lead the national side which features the likes of Hamza Mawaz Khan, Ahmed Ali Tiwana, Raja Taimur Nadeem, Raja Mikayel Sami and Raja Jalal Arsalan while Badar Zaman has been appointed as the team manager.

Taimur and Ahmed will fly to Johannesburg from the United Kingdom to join the team.

Pakistan will have horse trials at the East Rand Polo Club on September 7, while practice chukkers will be played on September 8, a day before Pakistan meet India at the Inanda Polo Club. The second match will be played at the East Rand Polo Club.

Samiullah said the Pakistan Polo Association had worked hard to help the team prepare for the matches.

“Hopefully it will be a good match against India and the team will try to give their best against our neighbours and try to win the crucial fixture,” he said.

“We need prayers from the entire nation for a good show against the arch-rivals.”

Published in Dawn, September 7th, 2022