Pakistan Announces 28-Member Squad for 2026 SAFF Championship

The Pakistan Football Federation revealed a 28-member squad for the upcoming SAFF Championship in Bangladesh, missing several key players for early matches.

NationPulse Desk

Nov 4, 2026 · 6:41 PM 4 min read

Key takeaways

The Pakistan Football Federation announced a 28-member squad for the 2026 SAFF Championship in Bangladesh.

Captain Abdullah Iqbal and three other key players will only be available if Pakistan reaches the semifinals.

Matches against India and Maldives fall outside the November FIFA international window, preventing early club releases.

The tournament takes place from November 5 to 17 at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

Pakistan Squad Announcement for the 2026 SAFF Championship

The Pakistan Football Federation has announced a 28-member squad for the 2026 SAFF Championship in Bangladesh, with several key players set to miss the team's opening matches against India and Maldives. The squad was announced nearly a day after most of the players had already departed for Bangladesh, where the tournament will take place from November 5 to 17. The event brings together regional football teams to compete at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

The timing of the announcement created a distinct sequence of events, as team members travelled to the host nation before official roster confirmation reached the public. Such logistics often accompany international sports tours involving players based in various domestic and foreign leagues. The Pakistan Football Federation manages national team selections, training camps, and administrative duties for international competitions.

Key Players Missing Group Stage Matches

Captain Abdullah Iqbal, defender Easah Suliman, and wingers Abdul Samad Arshad and Ali Akbar Khan have been included in the squad but will only be available if Pakistan qualifies for the semifinals. All four players are regular starters but were not released early by their clubs, as Pakistan's group-stage matches against India on November 5 and Maldives on November 8 fall outside the November FIFA international window. Club release rules under global football regulations permit teams to retain players when matches occur outside designated international calendar dates.

Meanwhile, Otis Khan and Harun Hamid remain unavailable, while Mohammed Fazal, Abdullah Shah, and Ali Agha have been ruled out due to injuries or fitness concerns. The absence of these experienced competitors creates tactical challenges for the coaching staff during the initial phase of the tournament. National team selectors must balance tactical continuity with fresh options from domestic clubs and overseas talent pools.

New Call-ups and Returning Players

Their absence has opened the door for Zainul Abideen Ishaque, Haseeb Ahmed Khan, Junaid Shah, and Tufail Khan Shinwari to return to the national team. McKeal Abdullah also returns after last representing Pakistan in 2025. Midfielder Muhammad Junaid and striker Najeebullah have received their first senior national team call-ups after representing Pakistan at the SAFF U20 Championship in the Maldives earlier this year. These inclusions provide younger athletes with valuable exposure at the senior international level.

Integrating youth squad members into the senior setup reflects ongoing efforts to build depth within the national pool. Domestic competitions and age-group tournaments serve as primary pipelines for identifying promising talent. Coaches evaluate players based on current form, physical condition, and tactical adaptability during preparatory training sessions.

Recent International Form and Tournament Group

Pakistan last competed in the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia during the September-October international window. The team suffered a 4-0 defeat against Thailand before securing a surprising 2-2 draw with the Philippines. Pakistan ended its Group B campaign with a 4-2 loss to Vietnam. Those fixtures provided competitive minutes against diverse Asian opponents ahead of the regional championship.

The 2026 SAFF Championship will be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from November 5 to 17. Pakistan has been placed in Group B alongside India and Maldives, while Group A consists of hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan. The semifinals are scheduled for November 14, followed by the final on November 17. Nepal will not participate in the tournament due to the ongoing suspension of the All Nepal Football Association by FIFA over governance issues.

Full 28-Member Pakistan Squad

The complete roster features a mix of goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards chosen to represent the nation in Dhaka:

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.

Coaching Staff and Team Officials

The technical staff guiding the squad through the tournament includes experienced managers and specialists:

Head Coach: Nolberto Solano
Assistant Coaches: Titus Bramble, Walid Javaid
Team Manager: Shahzaib Ahmed Khan
Goalkeeper Coach: Zahid Taj
Physiotherapist: Muhammad Adnan
Technical Observer: Asghar Khan Anjum

Questions and answers

When is the 2026 SAFF Championship taking place?

The tournament runs from November 5 to 17 at the National Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Which teams are in Pakistan's group for the SAFF Championship?

Pakistan is placed in Group B alongside India and Maldives.

Why are some key players missing the opening matches?

Captain Abdullah Iqbal, Easah Suliman, Abdul Samad Arshad, and Ali Akbar Khan were not released by their clubs because the opening matches fall outside the FIFA international window.