Pakistan’s national football team is making a major sacrifice in pursuit of history, as the squad will remain in camp during Eid ul Azha to prepare for their all-important Asian Cup Qualifier against Myanmar on June 10 at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium.
Speaking to a local news outlet, Shahid Khokhar, Secretary of the Pakistan Football Federation’s (PFF) Normalization Committee (NC), confirmed that players will not be released for Eid holidays, citing the tight schedule and the importance of the match.
“Eid ul Azha is likely to fall on June 8, just two days before our key qualifier,” Khokhar explained. “Releasing players to travel home at this stage would disrupt the momentum we’ve built. After careful consideration, the NC decided it’s in the team’s best interest to stay together during Eid.”
The NC has opted to retain the core squad that narrowly lost to Syria in their opening fixture. Khokhar praised the players’ resilience and teamwork during that match, saying their spirited display justified sticking with the same group, provided there are no injury setbacks.
The Pakistan football team will begin preparations for the next contest from May 25, with around 30 players expected to assemble at Jinnah Stadium for a high-intensity camp. This list includes both locally based players and key diaspora figures who featured in the Syria match.
The NC has also confirmed that Stephen Constantine will continue to lead the squad and will have full autonomy over technical decisions. Constantine’s experience and tactical leadership will be vital as Pakistan prepares to face Myanmar under floodlights at home, which is almost a must-win encounter if the team hopes to progress.
The decision to sacrifice Eid celebrations underlines the seriousness with which Pakistan is approaching their Asian Cup qualification bid, a campaign that offers the chance to deliver one of the most significant breakthroughs in the nation’s football history.