Pakistan Names 28-Player Squad for SAFF Championship 2026 as Key Players Face Delayed Arrival

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced a 28-member squad for the 2026 SAFF Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 5 to 17. The announcement came nearly a day after most of the players had already departed for the tournament, raising logistical questions about the timing of the squad reveal.

A significant constraint faces the team, as captain Abdullah Iqbal, defender Easah Suliman, and wingers Abdul Samad Arshad and Ali Akbar Khan have been included in the squad but will only be available if Pakistan progresses to the semifinals. All four are regular starters, but their clubs declined to release them early because Pakistan's group-stage matches against India on November 5 and the Maldives on November 8 fall outside the November FIFA international window.

Several other players will also be absent. Otis Khan and Harun Hamid remain unavailable for selection, while Mohammed Fazal, Abdullah Shah, and Ali Agha have been ruled out due to injuries or fitness concerns. These absences have created opportunities for Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Haseeb Ahmed Khan, Junaid Shah, and Tufail Khan Shinwari to return to the national setup. McKeal Abdullah also makes his comeback after last representing Pakistan in 2025, while midfielder Muhammad Junaid and striker Najeebullah have earned their first senior call-ups following their performances at the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives earlier this year.

Pakistan enters the tournament after competing in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia during the September-October international window. The team opened with a 4-0 defeat to Thailand before producing a surprising 2-2 draw against the Philippines, and closed its Group B campaign with a 4-2 loss to Vietnam.

The 2026 SAFF Championship will be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka. Pakistan has been drawn in Group B alongside India and the Maldives, while Group A features hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. The semifinals are set for November 14, with the final scheduled for November 17. Nepal will not participate in the tournament due to the ongoing suspension of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) by FIFA over governance issues.

The squad announcement underscores the challenges Pakistan faces in balancing club commitments with national duty, particularly as the group-stage fixtures fall outside the official FIFA window. The team's performance in Bangladesh will be closely watched as Pakistan looks to build on its recent international exposure and secure a strong result in the regional competition.