ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s national football team’s participation in the FIFA World Cup qualifier round two match against Tajikistan hangs in the balance after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) confirmed this week that most members of the squad have been unable to reach Dushanbe due to “travel disruption.” 

Pakistan are scheduled to face Tajikistan on June 11 in Dushanbe for the second round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The green shirts lost 6-1 to Tajikistan in November 2023 when the Group G sides clashed in Islamabad for the first round of the qualifiers. 

The PFF said on Saturday that a private airline that was scheduled to fly the team to Dushanbe was canceled after a bird strike incident, causing a delay of two days. The PFF said it has reached out to the country’s national airline but has yet to receive a “positive response” from the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). 

“Currently, 8 out of the 35-member squad have arrived in Tajikistan,” the PFF said. “The remaining members are in limbo, as efforts to secure either a commercial or chartered flight continue.”

The federation said it is trying its best to facilitate the travel of the remaining squad members to ensure they reach Tajikistan in time for the crucial match.

“The PFF remains committed to overcoming these challenges and is exploring all possible avenues to ensure the smooth travel of the players,” it said. 

Pakistan, who are placed at the bottom of Group G which also comprises Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan, lost to Saudi Arabia 3-0 on Thursday in Islamabad. 

In the second round of the qualifiers, a total of 36 football squads have been split into nine groups with four teams each. The winners and runners-up from each group would go through to the third round.

Pakistan are already out of the race for the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.