Overseas players to join Pakistan squad ahead of SAFF Cup semis

The players had been unavailable for the initial matches as the SAFF Championship was held outside the FIFA international window, meaning their respective clubs were not obliged to release them.

Pakistan have kept their qualification hopes alive with a convincing 3-0 victory over the Maldives on Sunday, bouncing back from a narrow 3-2 defeat against arch-rivals India in their opening Group B fixture. Pakistan now await the outcome of Wednesday's India-Maldives encounter, with an Indian victory set to secure Pakistan's progression to the semi-finals, subject to the final group standings.

The arrival of the five players will add depth and experience to Pakistan's squad as they look to build on their encouraging performance against the Maldives and make a strong push in the knockout stages. Meanwhile, hosts Bangladesh are also benefiting from the arrival of overseas-based players ahead of the semi-finals.

Sheffield United’s midfielder Hamza Choudhury arrived in Dhaka on Monday to strengthen Bangladesh's campaign, having missed the team's opening 1-0 victory over Bhutan on November 5 because of club commitments. The 29-year-old midfielder is expected to join the squad's preparations under head coach Thomas Dooley, while expatriate forward Farhaan Ali Wahid is also due to arrive on Tuesday.

Both players are scheduled to participate in an afternoon training session at Kings Arena on Monday. Bangladesh have already booked their semi-final place after Sri Lanka and Bhutan played out a 2-2 draw, leaving the hosts with their final Group A fixture against Sri Lanka on Wednesday at the National Stadium.

Choudhury's arrival is particularly significant for Bangladesh, with the Sheffield United midfielder bringing valuable experience and quality to the side as they pursue their first regional title in 23 years. The semi-finals will be held on November 14 with the final to be conducted on November 17.