Pak team to feature in Asian Men’s Volleyball C’ships

KARACHI: Overcoming financial hurdles upto certain extent with a substantial input from the Pakistan’s government, Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) on Saturday confirmed that the national senior team would feature in the Asian Men’s Volleyball Championships scheduled to be hosted by Iran in Tehran from September 13 to 21.

“Yes, we are sending the team to Iran on September 11,” PVF chairman Chaudhry M Yaqoob told ‘The News’ on Saturday.

“The government has issued us a cheque of Rs3 million. It has not yet been cashed. Although the tour would cost us around Rs 5 million. The tickets have been very expensive now. We also have to pay 60 dollars per night per member of the team besides depositing 900 dollars as entry fee. Similarly, we also have to provide kits and meet other requirements. And that is why the expenses swell a lot,” Yaqoob said.

Pakistan team would carry 13 players, Korean coach, two assistant coaches, manager, Iranian video analyst, referee and interpreter. The video analyst would join Pakistan team in Iran. Yaqoob reiterated that the PVF was committed to field the team in the event as the boys had been trained hard.

“It was not bearable to break their momentum,” Yaqoob said. Pakistan team have been undergoing training at the Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad. Meanwhile Iran has also issued travel instructions for the competing nations. The teams have been advised not to carry any alcohlic drinks. “Any female delegation should cover her hair by scarf and it is also required to cover her body as well. (No T-shirt but long-sleeved shirts, no panties but long pants,” the advisory said.

“Please do carry cash as you cannot use credit cards in Iran due to sanctions. You should pay for everything in cash including extra persons, visa fee and the like,” the travel advisory said.

It is pertinent to mention here that some teams also have women officials like nutrition specialist.

As many as 16 nations are set to feature in the Asian Championships in Tehran. Pakistan have been clubbed in Group D with four-time champions South Korea, last edition’s No4 side Indonesia and Kuwait which did not feature in the last edition held in Gresik, Indonesia, in 2017. Iran, Australia, Qatar and Sri Lanka form Group A, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Hong Kong are in Group B while Kazakhstan, China, Oman and India have been bracketed in Group C.

Pakistan will begin their journey with their fixture against South Korea on September 13. This would be followed by their matches against Indonesia on September 14 and Kuwait on September 15.

Making their debut in 1987 edition in Kuwait City in which Pakistan finished 7th so far only once the Green-shirts finished fourth in the 1989 Seoul edition.Mostly in the continental event, Pakistan have either finished at the seventh or eighth spot.