The Pakistan women’s football team is facing delays in securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) for their scheduled friendly match against Saudi Arabia, sources reveal.
Despite time constraints, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) maintains that all necessary paperwork has been submitted on time, urgently requesting the PSB to expedite the NOC process. Insiders report that although the PFF submitted all required documents, the PSB has instructed them to provide additional documentation to finalize the approval.
This delay has cast uncertainty over the upcoming international friendly.
Saudi Arabia’s Football Federation extended an invitation to the PFF and the Pakistan women’s football team to play a friendly match in Qatar, scheduled for December 7. This invitation, received by the PFF on October 28, provides a rare opportunity to the women’s team.
However, PFF officials express concern that, due to the short timeline, they may struggle to meet the PSB’s full compliance requirements in time for the match. Nonetheless, they remain hopeful that the PSB will expedite the approval, allowing the team to take advantage of this valuable international exposure.
The Saudi invitation marks a significant step forward in women’s football diplomacy, and the PFF is eager to participate, showcasing Pakistan’s growing presence on the international women’s football stage.