Draft — monitor run 2026-10-17 19:05 PKT
- Suggested slug: pakistan-saff-preparation-crisis
- Category: Sports
- Focus keyphrase: Pakistan SAFF Championship preparation
- SEO title: Pakistan Face SAFF Preparation Crisis as Camp Starts Late
- Meta description: Pakistan will start their SAFF Championship training camp on October 26, just nine days before the Dhaka tournament, raising serious fitness concerns.
- Tags: SAFF Championship, Pakistan football, Nolberto Solano, PFF, Gohar Zaman, Pakistan vs India football
- Original element: explainer context — Pakistan’s 12-year domestic league vacuum (league held once since 2014) and what it means for a nine-day camp, drawn from verified reporting
- Source: Tribune (“Pakistan face SAFF preparation crisis”, published 17 Oct 2026, 5:06 PM PKT; story/2635367)
Pakistan Face SAFF Preparation Crisis as Camp Starts Late
Pakistan’s preparations for the SAFF Championship have come under scrutiny, with the national team set to begin its training camp on October 26, just nine days before the tournament kicks off in Dhaka. The late start has raised concerns over the players’ fitness and readiness.
Pakistan’s head coach Nolberto Solano confirmed that the training camp would begin on October 26, only nine days before the team’s opening match against India on November 5. The delayed start means the players will have barely a few days to prepare before travelling to Bangladesh.
PFF chief operating officer Shahid Niaz Khokhar also confirmed the dates, saying the camp will begin on October 26 while the team will depart for Dhaka on November 2. The training camp is expected to be held in Islamabad, though Karachi has been suggested as a more suitable venue since its weather is currently similar to Dhaka’s.
“Absolutely unacceptable”
“It is absolutely unacceptable,” former Pakistan international and senior coach Gohar Zaman told The Express Tribune. “There are no Ronaldos or Messis here who are always in shape. Our players are usually out of action and need time to regain their fitness. They needed at least a 30-day camp for that purpose.”
“I do not think football development is a priority. If we want to develop the sport, we must take it seriously and manage it professionally,” he added.
Gohar also recommended that senior goalkeeping coach Aslam Khan join the tournament staff. “Aslam is in Dhaka, working as goalkeeping coach for Abahani Limited. It would be a plus if he were brought in,” said Gohar, a former striker who has served as an assistant coach of Pakistan’s senior team.
There are reports that some key Pakistan players based abroad may miss the tournament because of commitments to their clubs.
A familiar pattern
Pakistan previously faced criticism over ASEAN Cup preparations, when Solano could not obtain a visa in time and travelled directly to Indonesia. The team had been prepared in Islamabad under inexperienced coaches.
Unlike India and Bangladesh, where domestic leagues provide players with regular competition and help maintain fitness, Pakistan currently has no active domestic league. The lack of regular competitive football makes an extended training camp particularly important for the national team.
The numbers tell the story. Over the past 12 years, Pakistan’s domestic league has been held only once, during the 2018-19 season, when it was organised by two rival federations. After FIFA installed the Normalisation Committee in 2019, it failed to revive the league or domestic football. The current PFF administration has spent more than a year in office without meaningful progress towards restoring it.
The result is a national team that largely relies on overseas players, while local players go months without competitive football. A nine-day camp cannot fix what twelve years without a league has broken.
The tournament ahead
Pakistan have been drawn in Group B with India and the Maldives; hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up Group A. Pakistan open against India on November 5 before facing the Maldives on November 7. The top two from each group reach the semi-finals on November 14, with the final at Dhaka’s National Stadium on November 17.
Pakistan have a modest record in the SAFF Championship, with their best finish being third place in the 1997 edition in Nepal. India lead the honours list with nine titles, followed by the Maldives with two. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan have won one each. India are reportedly planning to field their under-23 team to give younger players international exposure.
FAQs
When does Pakistan’s SAFF Championship camp start?
The training camp begins on October 26 in Islamabad, nine days before the tournament starts in Dhaka. The team departs for Bangladesh on November 2.
Who is Pakistan’s head coach?
Nolberto Solano. Former Pakistan international Gohar Zaman has criticised the short preparation, saying the players needed at least a 30-day camp.
Who are Pakistan’s group opponents?
Pakistan are in Group B with India and the Maldives. They open against India on November 5 and face the Maldives on November 7.
Why is preparation such a problem?
Pakistan has no active domestic league. It has been held only once in 12 years, so local players lack regular competitive football and need longer camps to reach match fitness.
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