The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced a 28-member squad for the 2026 SAFF Championship in Bangladesh.

The tournament will take place from November 5 to 17. However, Pakistan will begin its campaign without several important players.

The squad announcement came nearly a day after most players had already travelled to Bangladesh. Pakistan will face India on November 5 before playing Maldives on November 8.

Captain Abdullah Iqbal, defender Easah Suliman, and wingers Abdul Samad Arshad and Ali Akbar Khan are included in the squad. However, they will only become available if Pakistan reaches the semifinals.

All four players are regular members of the national team. Their clubs did not release them early because Pakistan’s opening matches fall outside the November FIFA international window.

Key Players Unavailable for Pakistan’s Opening Matches

Apart from the four players facing club-related availability issues, several others will also miss the tournament.

Otis Khan and Harun Hamid remain unavailable for selection. Meanwhile, Mohammed Fazal, Abdullah Shah, and Ali Agha have been ruled out due to injuries or fitness concerns.

Their absence has created opportunities for several returning players. Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Haseeb Ahmed Khan, Junaid Shah, and Tufail Khan Shinwari have returned to the national squad.

McKeal Abdullah has also earned another call-up. He last represented Pakistan in 2025.

The PFF has additionally included two players receiving their first senior national team selections. Midfielder Muhammad Junaid and forward Najeebullah have earned their maiden senior call-ups.

Both players previously represented Pakistan at the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives earlier this year.

Pakistan’s Recent International Performance

Pakistan last played in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia. The competition took place during the September-October international window.

The national team started its campaign with a 4-0 defeat against Thailand. However, Pakistan later secured a 2-2 draw against the Philippines.

Pakistan finished its Group B campaign with another defeat. Vietnam beat the national team 4-2 in the final group match.

The upcoming SAFF Championship will provide another opportunity for Pakistan to compete internationally. The team will aim to improve its performance against regional opponents.

SAFF Championship 2026 Schedule and Groups

The tournament will be hosted at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Six teams will compete for the regional title.

Pakistan has been placed in Group B alongside India and Maldives. Group A includes hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan.

The semifinal matches are scheduled for November 14. The tournament final will take place on November 17.

Nepal will not participate because FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association. The suspension relates to governance issues within the organization.

Pakistan Squad for SAFF Championship 2026

The PFF has selected the following 28 players for the competition:

Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Hassan Ali, Yousuf Butt.

Defenders: Abdul Rehman, Abdullah Iqbal, Ali Khan Niazi, Easah Suliman, Haris Zeb, Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Mohibullah Afridi, Waqar Ehtisham Baloch.

Midfielders: Junaid Shah, Adil Nabi, Ali Uzair, Hayyaan Khattak, Tufail Khan Shinwari, Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Muhammad Junaid, Ali Akbar Khan.

Forwards: Abdul Samad Arshad, Alamgir Ghazi, Kaleemullah, McKeal Abdullah, Najeebullah, Shayak Dost, Umar Nawaz.

Pakistan Team Officials

The national team will be led by head coach Nolberto Solano. Titus Bramble and Walid Javaid will serve as assistant coaches.

Shahzaib Ahmed Khan has been appointed team manager. Zahid Taj will work as the goalkeeper coach.

Muhammad Adnan will serve as physiotherapist, while Asghar Khan Anjum will work as technical observer.

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Despite several absences, Pakistan will enter the competition with a mix of experienced players and new selections. The opening matches against India and Maldives will be important for the team’s progress.