India participation in SAFF Championship remains uncertain despite organizers' denial

The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) has dismissed rumors regarding India's withdrawal from the upcoming SAFF Championship in Dhaka as 'completely baseless.' While the federation confirmed that no withdrawal notice has been received from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), significant uncertainty remains regarding the composition of the Indian squad.

The scheduling conflict poses a major challenge, as the Indian national team is scheduled to tour New Zealand during the FIFA international break from November 9 to 17. This overlaps directly with the SAFF Championship, which runs from November 5 to 17. Because the tournament occurs during an international window, clubs in the Indian Super League (ISL) are not obligated to release senior players, complicating the selection of a full-strength squad.

As a contingency, the AIFF has considered sending an Under-23 team, a strategy that previously led to a title win in 2009. However, club reluctance to release youth players remains a hurdle. The tournament is set to begin on November 5 with a match between India and Pakistan, featuring six participating teams at the Dhaka National Stadium.