Pakistan and India, despite their historical rivalry, were brought together by the looming threat of Cyclone Biporjoy, with prayers for no casualties on either side of the Arabian Sea.
Despite these common grounds, political and diplomatic challenges make shared sports events and travel between the two countries difficult, as described by Shahzad Anwar, the head coach of Pakistan’s football team. “We’re still facing problems,” said Anwar, en route to Mumbai on a flight from Mauritius.
Anwar’s team, having received their Indian visas only on Monday, arrived in India around 1 am IST, marking the start of another demanding journey. The visa procurement process was drawn out, akin to a television drama.
Read: Pakistani Football Team Awaits Visas for SAFF Cup in India
By the matchday, June 21, the team was supposed to be at their Bangalore hotel, the venue for the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship, by 10 am. “We will arrive at 10 am on the day of the game. We need to travel to Goa first, then to Bengaluru. It’s been a difficult journey,” said Shahzad, who worked hard to motivate his players.
He believes the wait negatively affected their performance against Djibouti in their previous Four-Nation Cup friendly tournament match. He would have fielded a different team and employed different strategies if the visas had been issued earlier.
Pakistan’s stay in Mauritius had to be extended because the visas weren’t issued in time, causing financial strain for Pakistan and mental stress for the team. But Anwar remained hopeful, “We all want to play against India, participate in the SAFF Championship, and seize every opportunity to play, as we are rebuilding the team,” he said.
This will be Pakistan’s first match against India since 2018 and the first on Indian soil since 2014. India, coming off a win in the Intercontinental Cup final against Lebanon, is considered a formidable opponent.
Despite the difficulties and the possibility of exhaustion from the long journey, Anwar and his team are eager to play against India, a traditional rival. Despite the short recovery time, he expressed relief at finally receiving the visas, saying politics shouldn’t interfere with sports.
Anwar also disclosed his intention to advance beyond the group stage at the SAFF Championship, where Pakistan is grouped with India, Nepal, and Kuwait.
