Organisational lapses hit SAFF Cup ahead of kick-off

“Yes, our hotel was changed, but it happened before the team’s departure,” a well-connected. The main concern is that Pakistan will begin their campaign on Thursday with a crucial encounter against India. It remains to be seen how quickly the players can settle in after a long journey from Islamabad to Dhaka via Qatar.

Meanwhile, media reports suggest that the Indian team also had to wait several hours for accommodation following its arrival in Dhaka. “The team landed in the Bangladesh capital around 2:15 pm after a slight delay and was given the address of a private hotel on Gulshan Avenue.

However, upon reaching the property, the team discovered that rooms had not been allocated for them,” a web portal reported., Indian players were still waiting for accommodation until 5pm IST.However, a subsequent report confirmed that the Indian team had eventually secured accommodation in Dhaka.

Social media was also abuzz with reports about the alleged poor treatment of the Indian team, which will enter the tournament as defending champions. This correspondent also approached a senior SAFF official for comment, but received no response.

The high-profile Pakistan-India encounter will be played at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. Pakistan head coach Nolberto Solano is targeting a strong performance in the six-team tournament, which Nepal will miss due to a suspension.

“We go step by step. We have a big game against India on Thursday, followed by Maldives. Our focus is on these two matches and qualifying for the semi-finals.

We have to think of every game as a final. The first final is against India, and the second final is against Maldives,” Solano said. Comparing the intensity of Pakistan-India encounters to the rivalry between Peru and Chile, Solano said: “Peru-Chile is just like Pakistan-India.

It has the same intensity. I understand what these games mean to the fans. We want to please the people because we know what it means to them.

These games are special, and that itself is motivation.”Pakistan, India and Maldives are placed in Group B, while hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Bhutan make up Group A.Pakistan have never won the SAFF Cup, finishing third in the 1997 edition hosted by Nepal.

India are the most successful team in the tournament's history, having won the title a record nine times. Maldives have lifted the trophy twice, while Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have won it once each.

Bhutan will face hosts Bangladesh in the tournament's second match on Thursday under floodlights. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for November 14, while the final will take place on November 17.

India are fielding second string, rather, under-23 team, in the tournament which will provide a very good opportunity for Pakistan’s home-grown players to put up a strong fight against them