NEW DELHI: Pakistan have been drawn with India alongside invitee Kuwait and Nepal in group A of the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship 2023, scheduled to take place in Bengaluru from June 21 to July 4.
According to the details, a total of eight teams, divided into two groups, will participate in the South Asian tournament.
Group A features host India, Pakistan, Nepal and Kuwait while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lebanon and Maldives were drawn in Group B.
We have been drawn in Group A alongside hosts India, Kuwait and Nepal! 🏆
The tournament is all set to start on the 21st of June with the matches being played in Bangalore, India 🇮🇳 #Wearepakistanfootball #dilsayfootball #saffchampionship pic.twitter.com/f7Lfs3mfrF
— Pakistan Football Federation (@TheRealPFF) May 17, 2023
Pakistan men’s football team will mark their return to the SAFF Championship after missing the last two out of the 13 editions held since 1993.
The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) could not send its men’s team for the 2015 edition held in India due to the lack of funds.
The national side then missed the 2021 edition as they were serving a suspension from FIFA, which was lifted last year in June.
It is worth mentioning here that Lebanon and Kuwait were invited to participate in the 2023 edition despite not being in South Asia geographically, to give the competition a more competitive edge.
Sri Lanka will not be participating in the tournament as they are serving a suspension from the football governing body FIFA, while Afghanistan left SAFF and joined the Central Asian Football Federation.