Football Association (BFA) offered him to stay as Pakistan’s coach, the coach said, it would be up to him to decide about his future.
“The same matter has not been discussed by BFA with me. May be they discuss it with me in coming days. Truly speaking, my heart does not want to quit as Pakistan coach. I still have not decided about that. I always respect my contract and will work hard till it expires,” Shamlan said.
The other day a PFF top official told ‘The News’ that they had requested BFA to extend Shamlan’s contract.
The PFF wants to have him for the next five years. The BFA pays Shamlan for his services as Pakistan coach.
“Being a professional coach you need a good programme, money, international games very month and good facilities,” Shamlan said.
“I am thankful to the officials for the respect and support they gave me during my stay in Pakistan,” he said.
“May be I did not achieve results but still we played well against India, Nepal and Afghanistan. A coach needs more time for producing results,” Shamlan said.
In Al-Ain, Pakistan will face Jordon on May 16, Kuwait on May 18 and Kyrgyzstan on May 20.
The competitions of other groups have already been completed. Iraq, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Syria, Australia, DPR Korea, Korea Republic, Japan and China have made it to next year’s 16-team tournament proper to be hosted by Qatar. Besides the group winners, five best second-placed sides will also make it to the tournament proper.
The Under-23 championship also serves as qualifiers for 2016 Rio Olympics, with the top three teams qualifying.
Squad: Saqib Hanif, Ihsanullah, Sheroz Ahmed, Usman Khan, Mohammad Sufyan Asif, Naveed Ahmed, Bilal Ashraf, Shehbaz, Shehram Babar, Mohsin Ali, Amir Siddiqui, Bilawal-ur-Rehman, Saddam Hussain (captain), Sanaullah, Mohammad Riaz, Faheem Ahmed, Bilal Sattar, Mansoor Khan, Saadullah, Habib-ur-Rehman.
Officials: Mohammad Shamlan (head coach), Hassan Baloch (assistant coach), Asghar Anjum (assistant manager), Mohammad Aslam (masseur).