India turn to ABG Sports City for final SAFF preparations

After an eight-year absence, Bangladesh are set to host a major football tournament, with the SAFF Championship kicking off on Thursday, 5 November.

Bangladesh will feature in the opening match as South Asia’s top sides gather for the regional showpiece. With attention now turning to the teams’ preparations, defending champions India arrived in Dhaka on 3 November and wasted little time in getting down to work.

The Indian squad have chosen ABG Sports City, one of the country’s modern sporting venues, for their final preparations ahead of the tournament.

Under coach Naushad Musa, the players have been busy with tactical and physical training at Bashundhara Kings Arena.

Despite facing several complications before confirming their participation, India have eventually sent a squad largely comprising second-string, Under-23 players. However, the defending champions are leaving nothing to chance in their preparations.

India and arch-rivals Pakistan will face each other in the tournament’s opening match at the National Stadium in Dhaka on 5 November.

Drawn in Group B alongside Pakistan and the Maldives, India will take on the islanders on 11 November.

Six teams, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bhutan, will compete in this year’s championship.

The tournament will also mark a landmark moment for South Asian football, with Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology set to be introduced for the first time in the region during the semi-finals and final.