The Pakistan Football Federation has released its Pakistan SAFF Championship squad: a 28-strong party for the regional finals in Bangladesh. Most of the group had already flown out before the public list appeared, with the contest running from 5 to 17 November at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
Club release limits and early absences
Four established starters—skipper Abdullah Iqbal, centre-back Easah Suliman, and wide attackers Abdul Samad Arshad and Ali Akbar Khan—sit on the roster yet cannot take part until a last-four berth is secured. Their clubs declined an early release because Pakistan’s Group B fixtures with India (5 November) and Maldives (8 November) sit outside November’s FIFA international dates.
Otis Khan and Harun Hamid are still not available. Fitness and injury concerns have also removed Mohammed Fazal, Abdullah Shah and Ali Agha from contention.
Who returns and who is new
Those gaps have brought Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Haseeb Ahmed Khan, Junaid Shah and Tufail Khan Shinwari back into the Pakistan football team. Forward McKeal Abdullah is also recalled after his previous Green Shirt appearance in 2025. Midfielder Muhammad Junaid and forward Najeebullah receive maiden senior summons after featuring for Pakistan at the SAFF under-20 finals in the Maldives earlier in the year.
In the previous window the side played the first FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia: a 4–0 reverse against Thailand, a 2–2 share of points with the Philippines, then a 4–2 defeat by Vietnam that closed Group B.
Groups, schedule and full travelling party
Pakistan shares Group B with India and Maldives. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up Group A. Last-four ties are listed for 14 November, with the final on 17 November. Nepal is absent after FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association over governance problems.
Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Hassan Ali, Yousuf Butt.
Defenders: Abdul Rehman, Abdullah Iqbal, Ali Khan Niazi, Easah Suliman, Haris Zeb, Haseeb Khan, Mamoon Moosa Khan, Mohibullah Afridi, Waqar Ehtisham Baloch.
Midfielders: Junaid Shah, Adil Nabi, Ali Uzair, Hayyaan Khattak, Tufail Khan Shinwari, Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Muhammad Junaid, Ali Akbar Khan.
Forwards: Abdul Samad Arshad, Alamgir Ghazi, Kaleemullah, McKeal Abdullah, Najeebullah, Shayak Dost, Umar Nawaz.
Head coach Nolberto Solano is backed by assistants Titus Bramble and Walid Javaid, team manager Shahzaib Ahmed Khan, goalkeeper coach Zahid Taj, physiotherapist Muhammad Adnan and technical observer Asghar Khan Anjum.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier in 2026: Muhammad Junaid and Najeebullah represented Pakistan at the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives.
- September–October 2026 window: Pakistan played the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia (0–4 vs Thailand, 2–2 vs Philippines, 2–4 vs Vietnam).
- 2025: McKeal Abdullah’s previous senior appearance for Pakistan.
- Around 3–4 November 2026: Most selected players travelled to Bangladesh before the public squad list.
- 4 November 2026: PFF published the 28-man Pakistan SAFF Championship squad.
- 5–17 November 2026: SAFF Championship in Dhaka; Group B opens vs India (5 Nov) and Maldives (8 Nov); semis 14 Nov; final 17 Nov.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan ne Bangladesh mein hone wale SAFF Championship ke liye 28 players ka naam jaari kiya hai. Pehle do matches India aur Maldives ke khilaaf hain, lekin chaar regular players clubs ki wajah se abhi nahi khel sakenge. Agar team semi-final mein pahunch jaye to woh baad mein shamil ho sakte hain. Fans ke liye matlab yeh hai ke shuruati games mein kuch naye aur wapas aane wale faces zyada nazar aayenge.
