Former England Beneath-20 captain Easah Suliman is about to make his worldwide debut for Pakistan in opposition to India within the South Asian Soccer Federation (SAFF) Championship subsequent month.
The Vitoria defender seems set to obtain his first worldwide call-up by head coach Shahzad Anwar for the upcoming eight-team event after receiving worldwide clearance from FIFA to symbolize Pakistan.
Pakistan will face hosts India in a extremely anticipated opener in Bangalore, earlier than enjoying in opposition to Kuwait and Nepal. Pakistan final confronted India in 2018, shedding 3-1.
Born in Birmingham, Suliman got here by way of the ranks at Aston Villa, turning skilled on the membership on his seventeenth birthday earlier than taking mortgage spells at Grimsby, Cheltenham City and Dutch facet Emmen.
Suliman made his Villa debut below former boss Steve Bruce in a League Cup draw in opposition to Wigan, earlier than ultimately transferring to Portuguese top-flight facet Vitoria for an undisclosed charge in 2020.
The 25-year-old centre-back is at the moment on a season-long mortgage at Vilafranquense and has began the staff’s final 12 matches.
Suliman has gained worldwide recognition at youth stage throughout all age teams with England, most not too long ago that includes for the nation at U20 stage.
The defender is the primary British-Pakistani to handle an England staff and performed each minute of England’s U17 World Cup marketing campaign in Chile 2015.
Two years later, Suliman helped England develop into European U19 champions, scoring a header in a 2-1 win over Portugal within the closing.
Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon have been additionally a part of that England U19 squad, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount – who has been linked with a summer season exit from Stamford Bridge – named participant of the event .
Suliman arrives at London Heathrow with the U19 Euros trophy
Talking simply after turning into European Beneath-19 champion, Suliman mentioned: “Bringing the trophy house is surreal. I nonetheless cannot consider it.
“The second the referee’s whistle reached his mouth, I knew we had accomplished it.
“It means so much to me. I am overwhelmed with the achievement.”
Pakistan return to the SAFF Championship after lacking the final event in 2021 resulting from a FIFA suspension for third get together interference.
The nation’s ladies’s staff returned to the worldwide stage ultimately yr’s SAFF Ladies’s Championship in Nepal.
Doncaster Rovers Belles striker Nadia Khan, who Sky Sports activities Information revealed she obtained worldwide clearance simply in time to journey to Kathmandu for the event, made historical past in Pakistan’s closing group sport in opposition to Mauritius, turning into the primary girl to attain 4 targets in a world match for the nation.
British South Asians in soccer
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