LAHORE: The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Friday, announced Maria Khan as the new captain of the national team for the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship 2022. 

The goalkeeper turned midfielder replaced Hajra Khan as the captain, whereas the latter has been retained in the squad as a player.

Maria, who grew up in the United States and played football for the University of Denver before moving to UAE, is one of the two overseas players picked in the national contingent.

UK-based Doncaster Rovers’ Nadia Khan is the other overseas player, chosen to represent Pakistan in the SAFF Women’s Cup.

Malika-e-Noor, who was a member of the 2014 squad that played Pakistan’s last game in senior women’s football, however, has been named as Maria’s deputy for the upcoming championship.

It is pertinent to mention here that the sixth edition of the SAFF Women’s Championship will take place in Nepal from September 6 to 19.

Making their way back into the championship after a gap of eight years, Pakistan will start their campaign against their arch-rivals and five-time champions India on September 7 before taking on Bangladesh and Maldives on September 10 and 13 respectively.

PAKISTAN SQUAD: Hajra Khan, Maliha Nasir, Mishal Akram Bhatti, Rameen Fareed, Alina Isphani, Anmool Hira, Ghazala Aamir, Khadija Kazmi, Marvi Baig, Nizalia Siddique, Sara Khan, Shahida Amin, Shanza Nazir, Suha Hirani, Malika-e-Noor, Nisha Ashraf, Roshan Ali, Sahar Zaman, Mahpara Shahid, Zulfia Nazir, Atika Nasir, Maria Khan, and Nadia Khan.

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