ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: The Pakistan Football Federation on Wednesday set a new example, asking the Pakistan Olympic Association to include the football squad in the Asian Games contingent as it was ready to bear the expenses, has learnt on authority.

Earlier, football was excluded from the Asian Games contingent by the country's Olympic body.

“The Pakistan Olympic Association has added the sport in the contingent after having a detailed discussion with the officials of the Pakistan Sports Board,” a source close to the development told .

The POA has selected ten disciplines for the Asian Games, which are to be held in China in November this year, but with the inclusion of football, the number has increased to 11 while games like snooker, boxing, cricket (men and women), hockey, kabaddi, sailing, squash, weightlifting, wrestling and wushu were already in the list.

The PFF officials had remained critical over the decision of their elimination from the Asian Games and had also written a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani requesting him that missing the Asian Games this year would lower the profile of football in the country.

Pakistan had given tough fight to the teams like Japan, North Korea and Syria during the 2006 Doha Games.

“The management of the football federation has also agreed to bear all the expenses and the POA has asked them to fulfill the requirements for participation in the games,” the source added.

When approached, PFF Secretary Ahmed Yar Lodhi neither confirmed nor denied the reports over the inclusion of the sport in the Asian Games contingent.

“I am not aware of the development, however, the PFF will welcome the move,” Lodhi said.

A senior official, on condition of anonymity, however confirmed that the federation has directed the players and the officials to submit relevant documents with the concerned wing so that the accreditation process can be completed.