KARACHI: The Pakistan football team is still awaiting Indian visas ahead of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in Bengaluru.
It was hoped that the visas would be issued today (Monday) but sources have revealed that the matter could be delayed till Tuesday.
Pakistan will face hosts India in the opening match on Wednesday, June 21. However, the Green Shirts feel that the match should be rescheduled since the players won’t get adequate rest after arriving from Mauritius.
“We are still waiting for the visas. We have been told that they could be issued tomorrow,” a source close to the Pakistan team told GeoSuper.tv.
“If the visas are issued tomorrow [June 20] before 12pm [Mauritius time], we would be in a position to leave by 5:30pm. However, that would mean that we would reach Bengaluru, via a connecting flight from Mumbai, in the wee hours of Wednesday.
“It would be unfair to Pakistan team if they are made to play such a high-intensity match on the same day after so much travelling. In my opinion, the match should be rescheduled.”
Meanwhile, the SAFF General Secretary Anwarul Haque had earlier confirmed that the upcoming match between Pakistan and India can’t be rescheduled.
While speaking to News9 Sports, Haq also said that matches of Pakistan team could be cancelled if they don’t arrive in time for the tournament.
“The match is on Wednesday. Hopefully they can come by Monday,” Haq said on Sunday.
“The match can’t be rescheduled. It is out of the question because then it would mean rescheduling of the other matches, which is impossible.
“In case they can’t come, we have to cancel Pakistan’s matches.”
It must be noted that the Pakistan team was scheduled to fly for India from Mauritius, where they participated in a four-nation tournament recently, on Sunday at 11:30am but they were told by the Indian authorities to reschedule their departure and delay it until Monday.
The SAFF Championship will run from June 21- July 4 with India defending their title.
Pakistan's schedule in SAFF Championship
June 21 - India
June 24 - Kuwait
June 27 - Nepal
Muneeb Farrukh