As Pakistan prepares to face India in the SAFF Championship in the Indian city of Bangalore today, it faces another setback ahead of the crucial match.
More than half Pakistani playerscheduled to play the game today, missed their flight from Mumbai to Bangalore today, ESPN Report
Pakistan team manager Hasnain Haider described how the team faced problems at the passport control office in India.
“We landed in Mumbai at 1:30 am, but there was no official at the passport control office. They came 30 minutes later and gave us some forms to fill along with visa forms, which we had already filled and submitted. Authorities before arriving in Mumbai,” he said
The official added that the entire process took some time with the first group, comprising six players and six team officials, managing to board their flight at 3:55 p.m.
“However, the second team [14 players and six officials] They missed their flights because their forms took longer to be approved,” Haider added.
Following development, more than half the players will reach Bengaluru just six hours before kick-off as the next available flight leaves Mumbai at 9:15 am and will reach Bengaluru around 11 am and the players are likely to reach their hotels by 1 pm.
However, the Pakistan team is gearing up for the highly-anticipated clash against India despite traveling for nearly 17 hours.
“The players are ready to play, but obviously they are not in good shape. None of them have slept and we have been traveling for almost 17 hours now,” Hasnain said.
Earlier, South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) rejected Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) request to reschedule Wednesday’s India vs Pakistan match.
The PFF had earlier requested the regional football body to reschedule the game after delays in visa issues disrupted Pakistan’s travel plans.
“As you are well aware of the travel visa situation of the Pakistan contingent to the SAFF Championship 2023 due to which the team will reach Bangalore on the morning of the 21st, which is the same day of the match. Therefore, we would like to formally request SAFF to reschedule the match to a later date so that the team can get enough time to prepare after the long flight,” the PFF wrote to SAFF in an earlier e-mail.
However, the SAFF Cup organizers in Bengaluru rejected the PFF’s request, saying they were not in a position to reschedule the match.
“We are very much aware of your visa situation, but due to the involvement of several stakeholders including the broadcaster, we are not in a position to reschedule your match on the 21st as it may jeopardize the entire championship,” SAFF replied to PFF.
