The draw ceremony for the 14th edition of the SAFF Championships put the heated rivals in the same group. If Pakistan do end up travelling for the event (which as of now seems to be on the cards), the tournament is slated to open on June 21 with an India-Pakistan clash. However, this remains a big if as media reports in Pakistan have stated that the team’s participation in the tournament is conditional to governmental clearance — something which the Pakistan Football Federation has not yet received.
In light of the recent controversies in cricket — both sides refusing to play on each other’s soil — it might not be a surprise if this is denied. AIFF general secretary Shaji Prabhakaran told this newspaper that the Pakistan football body itself was fully on board. “Obviously, the federation filled in all the forms and completed the necessary procedures, so we know they want to come. But what goes on between them and their government, we cannot comment on,” he said.
This story is from the May 18, 2023 edition of The Morning Standard.
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This story is from the May 18, 2023 edition of The Morning Standard.
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