The Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) has officially announced the national squad for the inaugural Central South Asian 7s Rugby Championship, set to be held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on May 16 and 17. This landmark event, sanctioned by World Rugby under the CASA Rugby Alliance, will feature teams from Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan, marking the first-ever Rugby Sevens championship organized under this regional alliance.
CASA Rugby Alliance Formation
The CASA Rugby Alliance was established through the joint efforts of the rugby unions of Pakistan and India, aiming to promote and strengthen rugby across South and Central Asia. The alliance currently includes 11 member nations: Pakistan, India, Uzbekistan, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and Iran. According to PRU Secretary Salman Muzaffar Shaikh, the national team will depart from Lahore for Tashkent on May 15 after completing their preparations for the tournament.
Team Preparations and Leadership
Recently-appointed head coach Kashif Khawaja has overseen the team's training camp and preparations ahead of the competition, where all participating sides will face each other in the pool stage. Muhammad Mudassir has been appointed captain of the Pakistan team, while Umair Khan will serve as vice-captain. The squad also includes Aamir Shahzad, Anjum Sajjad, Mohsin Raza, Muhammad Aqib Siddiqui, Abbas Bangash, Muhammad Haroon, Faiq Shahzad, Muhammad Afzal, Touqeer Ali, and Muhammad Irfan.
Expressing confidence in the team, Salman Muzaffar Shaikh stated that Pakistan has selected a strong combination capable of competing against some of the region's leading rugby nations. He added that the inaugural championship would not only provide valuable international exposure to players but also play an important role in the promotion and development of rugby across the CASA member countries.
Salman further praised the collaborative efforts behind the formation of the CASA Rugby Alliance, describing it as a significant step towards creating greater opportunities for the sport and strengthening regional rugby in the years ahead.
