ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan football team are encountering travel issues as they prepare for their Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup qualifier round 2 match against Tajikistan on Tuesday (June 11) in Dushanbe.
Earlier, the Green Shirts lost 6-1 against Tajikistan in November 2023 when they clashed at the Jinnah Stadium in the qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) said on Saturday that a private airline, which was supposed to take the team to Dushanbe, got cancelled because of a bird hitting the plane. The team have to wait for two more days before they could leave.
As a result, the PFF have contacted the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to arrange a chartered plane for the left-over team, but haven’t yet received a positive response.
“Currently, 8 out of the 35-member squad have arrived in Tajikistan,” the PFF said. “The remaining members are in limbo, as efforts to secure either a commercial or chartered flight continue.”
The federation is trying really hard to resolve this matter and ensure that the remaining team members can reach Tajikistan in time for the crucial match.
“The PFF remains committed to overcoming these challenges and is exploring all possible avenues to ensure the smooth travel of the players,” it said.
In addition, Pakistan, alongside Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Tajikistan, are in Group G. Pakistan lost 3-0 to Saudi Arabia on Thursday in Islamabad, leaving Pakistan in last place. In the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the Green Shirts are already eliminated from the competition.