AIFF guarantees Indian visas for Pakistan Football Team

Shaji Prabhakaran will facilitate the issuing of visas to the Shaheens who are stuck in the Maldives.

India lifted the 2023 Intercontinental Cup as they handed Lebanon a 2-0 defeat at the iconic Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneshwar. Well, now the focus shifts to the 2023 SAFF Championship that kicks off on June 21 in Bengaluru.

As reported yesterday, Pakistan's arrival in Bengaluru for the 2023 SAFF Championship had been delayed pertaining to visa issues. But they are expected to reach the host city just in time before their opening day clash against India.

The Pakistan National Football team is still stuck in Mauritius where they played the Four Nation Cup recently. In a recent interaction with Pakistani daily 'Dawn', AIFF General Secretary said that the visas will be issued on monday. “Tomorrow it will be done,” Prabhakaran told Dawn, when asked about when the visas will be issued to the Pakistani players.

Head coach Shahzad Anwar calls out uncertainty

The head coach of the Pakistan National team, Shahzad Anwar also commented on the visas not being issued to his team. “Of course it is a disturbance; the uncertainty whether we will receive the visa tomorrow or not,”

“Only once we receive the visas, we can plan ahead,” he added. He further said if they arrive on the morning of June 21, their whole plan will be affected. “Arriving on the morning of the game will be tough for us and this whole situation is likely to affect how we will approach the match. Our planning will surely be affected.” he told Dawn from Port Louis.

Push for a smooth arrival

The reports until now suggest that AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey and General Secretary Shaji Prabhakaran are doing everything in their power to make sure Pakistan reach Bengaluru in time ahead of the opening day clash.

SAFF Secretary Anwar ul Haque Helal has told TV9 network that the fixture can’t be rescheduled. He also said that the plan right now is to get the visa applications approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs by Monday so that the Pakistan squad can arrive in Bengaluru either by Monday night or Tuesday morning.