Pakistan Women’s Football Team to Include Overseas Players for Asian Cup Qualifiers

KARACHI: The Pakistan Women’s Football Team is preparing to strengthen its lineup with international talent ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers. According to sources close to the selection, several overseas players will be added to the squad.

Team management has pinpointed six new players from the diaspora, all of whom possess professional experience in European and North American leagues. These players are being considered for the provisional squad, which has yet to be formally revealed.

Key Additions to the Squad
  • Notable additions include British-Pakistani midfielder Layla Banaras, previously with Birmingham City.
  • Mariam Mahmood, a striker currently with West Bromwich Albion in England, is also set to join.
  • Aqsa Mushtaq, who plays for OFI Crete in Greece’s top division and has experience in Italy’s Serie A, will also be included.
Goalkeeping and Defense
  • Zeeyana Jivraj, a Canada-based goalkeeper with prior experience in Portugal’s top league and currently playing for Northern Colorado Women’s FC in the USA’s WPSL, will enhance the team’s goalkeeping options.
  • Defensive capabilities will be bolstered by Marsha Malik (Solihull Moors) and Azwa Chaudhry (West Ham United youth team), both based in England.

A source familiar with the selection process stated, “Integrating players with competitive league experience from abroad is a strategic move to elevate the team’s performance before the qualifiers.”

The training camp is scheduled to commence on June 19 in Islamabad, with Maria Khan serving as the team captain. Pakistan is in Group E for the qualifiers, where they are slated to compete against Chinese Taipei on June 29, Indonesia on July 2, and Kyrgyzstan on July 5.

Provisional Squad Members for the Training Camp

Alia Sadiq, Amina Hanif, Anmol Hira, Aqsa Mushtaq, Azwa Chaudhry, Isra Khan, Jennah Farooki, Layla Banaras, Maria Khan (Captain), Mariam Mahmood, Nadia Khan, Nisha Ashraf, Nizalia Siddiqui, Rameen Fareed, Sanah Mehdi, Sara Khan, Sophiya Qureshi, Suha Hirani, Zeeyana Jivraj, Zehmena Malik, Marsha Malik, Zufia Nazeer