Four out of six footballers who were abducted in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti earlier this month while en route to Sibi were recovered on Friday, according to officials.

They were recovered with the help of law enforcement agencies, provincial government, and local administration. The children were “safely rescued” and brought to their homes after 20 days.

The players who were recovered include Amir Zakir, Faisal Hanif, Sohail Umer Bakhsh, and Yasir Mir Bakhsh. Kidnappers released the four at Dadi Shari Darbar.

Efforts were under way to rescue the remaining two players, Shiraz, and Muhammad Babar.

On September 9, six football players were kidnapped when they were travelling to Sibi to participate in the CM Gold Cup qualifier. A total of 18 players were travelling in a small pickup truck.

The incident happened when the team representing the Dera Bugti district was passing by the Kachhi Canal on the outskirts of Dera Bugti.

The players who were abducted include Amir, Faisal, Sohail Ahmed, Yasir, Shiraz, and Muhammad Babar.

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on September 10 that a banned outfit was behind the kidnapping of players.