Pakistan and Iran will take part in the EK Nayanar Memorial International Gold Cup football tournament to be held at Kerala, India from 8 to 24 April; reportedly the first international football event to be named after and to commemorate a Communist Party functionary. The event is being organised by the EK Nayanar Memorial Trust, headed by Communist Party of India Marxist Kerala state secretary, Pinarayi Vijayan. According to the Daily Times Pakistan, Iran, Ghana and Nigeria are participating in the tournament along with four Indian clubs
Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has named Muhammad Essa as skipper and Akhtar Mohiuddin as head coach of the PFF Eleven that will take part in tournament. Sardar Naveed Haider Khan will be chef-de-mission of the squad which includes Muhammad Essa (captain), Bilal Rafique, Adeel Ahmed, Syed Sultan Ali, Muhammad Irfan, Saeed Ahmed, Yasir Sabir, Muhammad Qasim, Mehmood Khan, Zubair Moazzam, Kamran Khan, Javed Hamza, Asif Ayub, Imran Hashmi, Muhammad Zeeshan, Misbahul Hassan, Shahid Ahmad and Muhammad Waseem.
Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat has named Muhammad Essa as skipper and Akhtar Mohiuddin as head coach of the PFF Eleven that will take part in tournament. Sardar Naveed Haider Khan will be chef-de-mission of the squad which includes Muhammad Essa (captain), Bilal Rafique, Adeel Ahmed, Syed Sultan Ali, Muhammad Irfan, Saeed Ahmed, Yasir Sabir, Muhammad Qasim, Mehmood Khan, Zubair Moazzam, Kamran Khan, Javed Hamza, Asif Ayub, Imran Hashmi, Muhammad Zeeshan, Misbahul Hassan, Shahid Ahmad and Muhammad Waseem.