Pakistan Set for Thailand Test in FIFA ASEAN Cup Opener
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
BANDUNG: Pakistan will begin their campaign in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup against Thailand on Saturday, with head coach Nolberto Solano saying the tournament will give his team valuable experience against strong Asian opposition.
The Group B Division One match is scheduled to begin at 4:00pm local time (2:00pm Pakistan Standard Time) at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium.
Pakistan will then face the Philippines on September 29 before taking on Vietnam on October 2.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Solano said Pakistan wanted to use the tournament to assess their progress against established Asian teams.
He acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting the difference between the teams in the latest FIFA rankings. Thailand are ranked 94th, while Pakistan are 198th. The Philippines are ranked 135th and Vietnam 113th.
Solano said Pakistan were continuing to develop as a national team and would look to take the competition one match at a time.
Pakistan Enter Tournament After Maldives Success
Pakistan head into the ASEAN Cup after a positive run at the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives.
The national team remained unbeaten in the four-team competition. Pakistan drew 0-0 with Bangladesh before recording 3-0 and 2-0 victories over the Maldives and Afghanistan respectively.
They defeated Afghanistan 2-0 again in the final, with Shayek Dost and Harun Hamid scoring to secure Pakistan’s first standalone international tournament title in decades.
The achievement followed a long wait for Pakistan to reach and win a standalone tournament. Their previous final appearance had come at the 1962 Merdeka Cup, while their last tournament success before the Maldives event was a shared title at the 1952 Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament.
Thailand Squad Includes Experienced Players
Thailand have named a strong squad for the tournament, featuring experienced players including Chanathip Songkrasin, Supachok Sarachat and Jude Soonsup-Bell.
German-based defender Nicholas Mickelson is also part of the squad, which is coached by Englishman Anthony Hudson.
The team also includes established domestic players such as Supachai Chaided of Buriram United and Peeradon Chamratsamee of Port FC.
Pakistan Squad Combines Local and Overseas Players
Pakistan have selected a 23-member squad featuring players from domestic clubs as well as footballers based abroad.
Captain Abdullah Iqbal will lead the team, while experienced forward Kaleemullah has returned to the national setup.
Defender Easah Suliman joined the squad in Bandung after his arrival was delayed because of illness. The remaining players had already assembled in Indonesia before his arrival.
Teenage midfielder Abdul Samad, who captains Pakistan’s Under-17 team, is also part of the squad after recently signing a two-year contract with Azerbaijani champions Qarabag.
Captain Abdullah said the competition would provide Pakistan’s players with an opportunity to face teams with greater experience at the Asian level.
FIFA ASEAN Cup Format
The FIFA ASEAN Cup is a new international tournament featuring 14 teams. The lineup includes all 11 ASEAN member nations along with guest participants Bangladesh, Pakistan and Hong Kong China.
The Division One competition in Indonesia features eight teams divided into two groups.
The group winners will qualify for the final, while the runners-up will compete for third place.
Pakistan are placed in Group B alongside Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. Their three group matches are scheduled for September 26, September 29 and October 2.
For Solano and his players, the immediate focus is on using the tournament to gain experience and continue developing Pakistan’s national football team.
