The Pakistan national football team has cancelled this month’s scheduled visit to Dhaka, the Bangladesh Football Federation announced on Sunday.
Pakistan were due to arrive in Dhaka on Sunday and play two warm-up matches against a BFF XI and the Bangladesh national team as part of their preparation for next month’s SAFF Championship in Nepal.
The matches were scheduled for August 13 and August 16.
A senior BFF official said Pakistan did not provide a reason for the cancellation of the tour, but he attributed it to the political action that Bangladesh faces in the coming days.
‘Pakistan wanted to reschedule the tour because of the general strike called by Jamaat-e-Islami for August 13 and 14, but could not do so because flights were not available,’ said the BFF official.
‘We offered to play just one match [instead of two], but maybe they thought this would not be financially viable.’
Pakistan’s last-minute cancellation also upsets Bangladesh’s preparation for the tournament, with no other matches planned over that period.
BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Sohag said the national team management committee would soon decide on an alternative plan.
‘Our head coach [Lodewijk de Kruif] will arrive on Tuesday. The national team management committee hopes to make a plan after discussing the matter with him,’ Sohag said.
Meanwhile, new goalkeeping coach Cornelius
Kalk will join the Bangladesh national football team camp today. The 55-year-old trainer, who was appointed on De Kruif’s recommendation, has been coaching goalkeepers for 15 years, most recently for Armenia’s FC Banants Youth Academy.
The SAFF Championship begins on August 31, a day ahead of the original schedule, with Bangladesh facing hosts Nepal in the opening match.
2003 SAFF Championship winners Bangladesh are in Group A, along with Nepal, Pakistan and six-time winners India. Afghanistan, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up the other group.
-With New Age input
