by Faizan Lakhani
KARACHI: One Pakistani club will participate in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) inaugural Club Championship which will be played in 2024, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) confirmed on Thursday.
At least 16 teams will participate in SAFF’s first-ever Club Championship. Four from India and Bangladesh each, three from Maldives, three from Maldives, two from Nepal and one each from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will take part in the event.
Since there is no professional league in Pakistan, the PFF will play the matches between the three clubs of the previous league, and the winner of those matches will get the opportunity to represent the country in the SAFF Club Championship.
Afghan Club Chaman, Muslim FC and Baloch FC Nushki are shortlisted and the three clubs will go head to head in December to book their place for the Asian event.
All these clubs have played in the Pakistan Premier League (PPL) in the past and are rated among the best domestic football sides in the country.
It must be noted that the top teams of their professional leagues represent their country in the tournament but Pakistan don’t have a league which is why only one club is allowed to compete in the event.
The tournament will be played on home and away basis over a six-seven month period.