KARACHI: In a bid to prepare a strong Pakistan squad for AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers to be held next month in Sri Lanka, Pakistan will square off against formidable International Eleven here at Baloch Stadium on Thursday (today).
Pakistan Football Federation has organised a six-match Inland Series ahead of the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers at Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Pakistan will start their campaign playing their first match against Chinese Taipei (April 4). Pakistan will face Brunei Darussalam in their second match on April 6 and will take on hosts Sri Lanka on April 8.
The match against International XI will be the fifth match of Pakistan national team in the Inland Series.
Earlier Pakistan won all the four matches against Pakistan Steel, Habib Bank Limited, Karachi Port Trust and Sindh Government Press.
Vienna-born Pakistani coach Georg Kottan has designed the inland series as part of his training and player assessment program.
"Roping in such a tough series means we are committed and preparing ourselves for putting up a much better show in the coming assignment.
"As many as 23 probables are attending the Camp for AFC Challenge Cup 2009," said the coach.
"We did defeat four organizations but Thursday match will be tough test as famous internationals from KPT, Navy, NBP, PIA, KESC will figure against us," said Kottan, one of the seven gold medallist coaches in the history of South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
