LAHORE, March 23: A 23-member Pakistan football team to be led by Mohammad Essa was announced here on Sunday to feature in two back-to-back international events.

The team will be playing in a two-match away home series against Nepal from March 26 to 28 followed by the AFC Challenge Cup to be held in Chinese Taipei from April 2 to 6.

The squad, announced after two-day trials watched by a six-member national selection committee, includes goalkeeper Iltaf Ahmed, who during the World Cup qualifiers in Damascus last year blocked attacks from the Iraq team resulting in a 0-0 draw.

Iltaf happens to be one of the two British-based players (the other being Adnan Farooq Ahmed) being included in the team. The team leaves for Nepal after the conclusion of the football camp that started here on Feb 20 to continue till March 24.

Akhtar Mohiuddin will be accompanying the team as head coach along with Irfan Khan Niazi (manager), Gohar Zaman (coach), Noman Ibrahim (goalkeeping coach) and Dr Kamran Mehdi (physiotherapist).

Squad:

Goalkeepers (3): Amir Qureshi, Ghulam Nabi (KRL), Iltaf Ahmed (Bradford).

Defenders (9): Mohammad Ahmed, Samar Ishaq, Kamran Khan (KRL), Tanveer Ahmed, Jamshed Anwar (Wapda), Mohammad Haji (PIA), Abbas Ali (NBP), Mohammad Imran (Army), Mohammad Shahid (Wapda).

Midfielders (7): Shahid Ahmed (KRL), Vice captain Zahid Hameed (Wapda), Farooq Shah, Atiqullah (NBP), Mohammad Irfan (PIA), Michael Masih (Army), Imran Hashmi (PIA).

Strikers (4): Mohammad Qasim, Captain Mohammad Essa, Mohammad Rasool (KRL), Abdul Rehman (KPT).

Standbys: Sajjad Ahmed (Navy), Bilal Rafiq (PIA).