Grimsby Town’s Otis Khan to Play for Pakistan

Grimsby Town midfielder Otis Khan is expected to make his international debut for Pakistan in June 2023.

Pakistan, who were reinstated to international football in 2022 following a ban for third-party interference, have announced they will take part in a four-nation tournament in Mauritius, alongside the host nation, Kenya and Djibouti.

Khan played a key role in Grimsby’s run to the quarter-finals of this season’s FA Cup.

He is expected to be available for the friendly tournament in Mauritius and the subsequent South Asian Football Federation Championship (SAFF).

Otis Khan played academy football at Manchester United before turning professional at Sheffield United.

He made his debut for Sheffield in 2014 before going on to play at Barnsley, Yeovil Town and Mansfield Town.

Khan was part of the Tranmere Rovers side that reached the League Two play-offs in the 2020/21 season, while also finishing runners-up in the EFL Trophy final.

The 27-year-old has since played for Walsall and Leyton Orient before he elected to join Grimsby Town on a two-year deal last summer.

Otis Khan’s international clearance to represent Pakistan comes after former England youth captain Easah Suliman was cleared to play for Pakistan.

He is expected to play for Pakistan at the SAFF Championship.

Suliman has earned international recognition throughout age groups with England, most recently featuring for the nation at U20 level.

The defender became the first British-Pakistani to captain an England side and played every minute of England’s U17 World Cup campaign in Chile 2015.

Two years later, Suliman helped England become European U19 champions, scoring a header in a 2-1 win against Portugal in the final.

Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Tottenham’s Ryan Sessegnon were also part of that England U19 team, with Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount named the Player of the Tournament.

The SAFF Championship runs between June 21 and July 4.

Pakistan will take on host nation India in an eagerly-anticipated tournament opener in Bengaluru, before playing against Kuwait and Nepal.

Pakistan’s last meeting with India was also at the SAFF Championship, back in 2018, with India winning that match 3-1.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s women’s side returned to the international stage at 2022’s Women’s SAFF Championship in Nepal.

Doncaster Rovers Belles attacker Nadia Khan had received international clearance just in time to fly to the tournament.

She made history in Pakistan’s final group game against Mauritius, becoming the first woman to score four goals in an international match for the nation.