ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has issued a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the national women’s football team to compete in the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Women’s Championship, local media reported on Saturday.
In a move taken in the broader national interest, the PSB approved the NOC, allowing the team to travel to Kathmandu today, according to media reports. The team consists of 24 players and eight officials.
The SAFF Women’s Football Championship will take place from October 17 to 30 in Kathmandu, with Pakistan’s first match scheduled against India on October 17.
The PSB had previously raised concerns regarding the football normalisation committee’s failure to follow the required protocols for obtaining the NOC, local media reported.
In a statement, the board urged all sports federations to apply for NOCs in a timely manner for future international tournaments and to submit complete profiles of players and officials for scrutiny.
The board has also introduced a new requirement for all federations, mandating them to submit a detailed performance report following the event. This step is part of an effort to streamline sports management and improve oversight in Pakistan.
Earlier, there had been uncertainty surrounding the team’s participation, as the PSB had rejected an initial NOC request due to procedural issues.
The PSB had previously reminded the PFF on September 12 about the necessary protocols for obtaining the NOC.
