Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has named Maria Khan as the new captain of the Pakistan women’s football team ahead of next month’s South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship.
The goalkeeper turned mid-fielder grew up in the United States where she played football for the Uni-versity of Denver before moving to the United Arab Emirates for higher studies. In the UAE she played for a local club.
She is one of two overseas players named in Pakistan’s squad for the SAFF Championship which is set to be played in Nepal from September 6. UK-based Doncaster Rovers’ Nadia Khan is also selected to represent Pakistan in the SAFF Women’s Cup.
Hajra Khan, who was the captain of Pakistan’s women’s side when it played its last international match in 2014, was replaced by Maria. Hajra is retained in the squad as a player.
Malika-e-Noor is named vice-captain of Maria. She was also a member of the 2014 squad that played Pakistan’s last game in senior women’s football.—Agencies
