ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday defeated Cambodia 1-0, making it their first victory in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers history played in Cambodia on Tuesday. After the win, Pakistan qualified for the next run and would face Saudi Arabia.
Harun Hamid managed to score the only decider for Pakistan in the 67th minute of the match. Both sides were unable to score any goal in the first session.
Star footballer and center-forward Otis Khan didn’t appear in the second leg as he didn’t get clearance from the FIFA officials.
It is worth mentioning here that Otis Khan was barred from participating in the first leg by the governing body of the FIFA Games, which ruled him ineligible, despite possessing a Pakistani passport.
Otis Khan made his debut for Pakistan against Mauritius in a friendly match in June this year. His eligibility was based on his paternal grandfather, Kanwar Jamil Mohammed Khan, who was born in Delhi but later relocated to Pakistan following the partition in 1947 and then settled in Manchester.
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Before the current victory, Pakistan only hosted a FIFA/AFC World Cup Qualifier in 2011, when Bangladesh played at the Punjab Stadium.
After the win, Pakistan would face Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan in Group G in round two of the qualifiers.
Pakistan Squad
Goalkeepers: Usman Ali, Salman ul Haq and Yousaf Butt.
Defenders: Mamoon Moosa Khan, Mohibullah, Sohail Khan, Juniad Shah, Ali Khan Niazi, Rao Umar Hayat, Abdullah Iqbal and Easah Suliman.
Midfielders: Alamgir Ghazi, Ali Uzair, Rajab Ali, Nizamuddin, Harun Hamid and Rahis Nabi.
Forwards: Waleed Khan, Mohammad Waheed, Yousuf, Fareed Khan, Abdul Samad, Otis Khan, Moin Ahmed, and Shayak Dost.
