News Desk
Pakistan has not granted travel clearance to its women’s national football team to participate in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship in India. The tournament will take place from 25 May to 7 June in Goa, marking India’s first time hosting the event in a decade.
A spokesperson for the Pakistan Football Federation told Al Jazeera that the team has not received the required no‑objection certificates from government authorities. The spokesperson did not provide a reason for the decision. Pakistan was absent from the official tournament schedule released on Wednesday, and the draw in Dhaka placed the remaining teams into two groups.
The championship will feature India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and defending champions Bangladesh. Athletes in Pakistan must secure government clearance before travelling abroad for competitions, making the certificates essential for participation.
The decision reflects the broader freeze in India–Pakistan relations following the four‑day conflict in May 2025. That confrontation, triggered by a militant attack in Kashmir, involved artillery exchanges, drone incursions and limited air operations. The fallout has affected diplomacy, trade, cultural exchanges and sport.
Cricket remains the most visible casualty of the breakdown. Pakistani players do not participate in the Indian Premier League, and Indian players do not take part in the Pakistan Super League. Other sporting engagements have also stalled.
The SAFF schedule was released as India marked the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack in Kashmir, which killed 26 people. India blamed the attack on Pakistan, a charge Islamabad denies.
The SAFF Women’s Championship has been held roughly every two years since 2010. Bangladesh won the previous edition in 2024, defeating Nepal 2–1 in the final. Pakistan struggled in that tournament, losing to India and drawing with Bangladesh, and did not advance beyond the group stage.
