LAHORE: Members of the Pakistan football team can today (Monday) get their visas to visit India to participate in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Cup, which will be held in Bengaluru from June 21 to July 4.
When this correspondent asked All India Football Federation (AIFF) Secretary General Shaji Prabharakram about updates on the Pakistan team’s visas to India, he replied via WhatsApp: “It will be done tomorrow.”
AIFF is doing its best to arrange visas for the Pakistani team, which is going to India after nine years.
According to sources familiar with the development, Pakistan team officials were scheduled to go to the Indian High Commission in Mauritius on Sunday to collect their passports. However, he was asked by the PFF Normalization Committee to wait as the AIFF was trying to arrange visas for the Pakistani team.
The Pakistan team was scheduled to fly to India at 11:30 am on Sunday, but could not do so due to non-issue of visas.
The team management had told the Mauritius football authorities that he would be able to get a visa to India on Monday (today), and that he had provided accommodation.
The Pakistani team is currently staying at the same hotel as it was for the four-nation football event, which ended on Saturday.
Djibouti emerged champions of the event after defeating Pakistan 3-1 in their final game on Saturday.
According to team sources, if the team could not get visas even on Monday, Pakistan can definitely arrange for more stay in Mauritius itself, which will be expensive.
“You cannot feel the mental agony we have been going through for the last three days,” said a team source.
“Everyone is worried whether they will get a visa or not,” the source said.
Sources said the players were very excited for the SAFF Cup but the visa issues have put them in a lot of trouble.
Sources say that if the visas are delayed further and Pakistan leaves for India on Tuesday or early Wednesday, it will be very difficult for the Green Shirts to play the first match against India on June 21.
“If we reach India on or before June 21, the organizers should reschedule our match against India,” said a source.
