Pakistan face strong Yemen today

KARACHI: Pakistan football team will be put to a real test when they face strong Yemen in their first leg of the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup qualifiers at Grand Hamad Stadium in Doha on Thursday (today).
The match starts at 8:30pm PST.
After back-to-back tours of Malaysia and Thailand the Green-shirts reached Doha on Tuesday. They are staying at Grand Heritage Hotel which is near the venue.
Pakistan team on Wednesday practised under floodlights. A team official said that the players were ready for the key showdown. “Yes, all the players are ready. We are going to have our practice session in a while,” Pakistan team manager Asghar Khan Anjum told ‘The News’ from Doha on Wednesday.
But surprisingly former Fulham defender Zeeshan Rehman had not yet joined the team. “Yes, he has not reached as yet as he had to play an AFC Cup match today. And it seems that he would miss the first leg tomorrow,” Asghar said.
When asked why he had been made skipper when he was not available, Asghar said: “It was not known that he would not be available.”
However, he was quick to add that his absence would not be felt. “We have some solid players in the defence and I don’t think we will face any problem in the deep without him,” said Asghar, a former Pakistan’s striker.
“Coach Shamlan mostly relies on those players who train under him and I don’t think his absence will hurt us,” the official said.
Zesh was representing Malaysian club Pahang FA who were held to a goalless draw by Global FC of Philippines in the AFC Cup game on Wednesday at Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan, Malaysia.
A top official of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) was not happy with this. “It’s not good. Even if he reaches Doha how will he play tomorrow when he has played a match today?” the official said.
“Clubs are bound to release their players for FIFA’s days and World Cup qualifiers. Zesh’s club should have released him in time. We will write to FIFA about this issue,” the official said.
Asghar said that Danish strikers Mohammad Ali and Hassan Bashir had joined the team.
Experienced Danish defender and AB Copenhagen’s player Nabil Aslam will make his debut for Pakistan.
Besides having star players upfront Pakistan have potentially brilliant boys both in the midfield and defence. But the goalkeeping department must be a concern for coach Shamlan.
Asghar said the coach had instilled confidence in all his three goalies. “Yes, the glovemen did not seem sound on the training tours of Malaysia and Thailand. But Shamlan has focussed on all three and has tried to keep them mentally strong,” Asghar said.
The second leg will be staged at Punjab Stadium Lahore on March 17.
Goalkeepers: Muzammil Hussain, Saqib Hanif, Ihsanullah. Defenders: Zeeshan Rehman (captain), Nabil Aslam, Mohammad Bilal, Mohammad Ahmad, Mohammad Sufyan, Mohsin Ali, Ahsanullah, Saddam Hussain.
Midfielders: Mehmood Khan, Naveed Ahmed, Bilawal-ur-Rehman, Mohammad Riaz, Mansoor Khan.
Strikers: Mohammad Ali, Kaleemullah (vice-captain), Hassan Bashir (vice-captain), Mohammad
Adil, Saadullah, Habib-ur-Rehman. Officials: Mohammed Shamlan (head coach), Hasan Baloch (assistant coach), Asghar Khan Anjum (manager), Zahid Taj (goalkeeping coach), Mohammad Aslam (masseur).