Knee injury keeps Adeel Ahmed out of AFC Cup probables

KARACHI: A serious knee injury has forced the popular midfielder Adeel Ahmed to sit out of the AFC Challenge Cup qualifying round, while the prolific strikers Shakir Lashari and Yasir Afridi failed to attract the selectors as the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced 48 players for the camp, which would commence from February 20 at the Punjab Stadium in Lahore.

Adeel Ahmed, an outstanding midfielder, was not considered for the AFC Challenge Cup camp due to his knee injury. Adeel, who represented Khan Research Laboratories (KRL) in the last Premier League, told ‘The News’ that he had developed a knee injury which had forced him not to participate in the last round of the elite domestic competition.

He said the doctors have prescribed a three-month rest, and he would not be able to participate in the AFC Challenge Cup. However, the big surprise has been the omission of PIA’s striker Shakir Lashari and Yasir Afridi, a cousin of Test cricketer Riaz Afridi. Shakir, who represented PIA in the Premier League, had played a key role for PIA with ten goals to his credit and helped his department to finish at a respectable sixth place.

However, sources say that Shakir has not been considered for the camp because he has been an indisciplined player, and he had not even reported for the camp, which was set up for the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers against the Asian Champions Iraq in September-October last year.

The sources added that his fitness was also a matter of concern for the selectors. Yasir Afridi, who has been an emerging striker, had left a great impression in the league, but he also failed to get the selectors’ nod.

Afridi, who had also missed the World Cup 2010 Qualifiers, was making all out efforts during the League to get the green signal for the AFC Challenge Cup. At least, his inclusion in the camp was necessary.

Pakistan Television’s (PTV) goalie Mujahid and striker Naimatullah are among newcomers who

represented PTV in the Premier League. However, British-based players, the goalie Iltaf Ahmad, who had played a superb role in the 0-0 draw in the World Cup Qualifier against Iraq, midfielder Zeeshan Rehman and Adnan Farooq Ahmad have been called for the camp.

The other foreign players Amjad Iqbal, Assad Ahmad and Suffean Mehmood failed to find a place in the list. Pakistan have been placed in Group A with Sri Lanka, the hosts Chinese Taipei and Guam in the qualifiers to be held from April 2-6.

Players include the goal-keepers Amir Qureshi, Ghulam Nabi (KRL), Syed Sultan Ali, Bilal Rafiq (PIA), Mujahid (PTV), Yasir bin Younas (NBP), Tauqeer Ahmad (Faisalabad), Mehmood Ahmad (Army), Basit (PEL) and Altaf Ahmad (UK).

The other invitees are: Defenders — Samar Ishaq, Muhammad Ahmad, Kamran Khan (KRL), Tanveer Ahmad, Jamshed Anwar, Shahid Nabi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Naveed Akram (WAPDA), Muhammad Haji, Muhammad Irfan (PIA), Abbas Ali (NBP), Aurangzeb (KPT), Muhammad Shahid (Railways), Muhammad Imran, Umar Daraz (Army), Zeeshan Rehman (Queen’s Park Rangers).

Midfielders — Muhammad Essa, Shahid Ahmad (KRL), Mehmood Ali, Imran Niazi, Zahid Hameed, Zulfiqar Ali Shah (WAPDA), Zafar Majeed (KPT), Farooq Shah (NBP), Jadeed Khan (Afghan FC), Adnan, Farooq Ahmad (Tranmere Rovers), Mubashir Hussain (Army), Atiq Ullah (NBP), Muhammad Shabbir (Army).

Strikers — Arif Mehmood (WAPDA), Imran Hussain (Army), Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Rasool (KRL), Sajjad Ahmad (Navy), Niamatullah (PTV), Abdul Rehman (KPT), Ishtiaq Ahmad (HBL) and Imran Hashmi (PIA).