Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi club's participation in the 118th IFA Shield tournament hangs in balance as the club has failed to secure Indian visas for its foreign players.
With their opening match against Mohun Bagan AC scheduled for today, the Federation Cup champions only received the visas for its local players and officials yesterday evening, but have not yet received the visas for its six foreign players who are considered as the main strength of the side.
Following the development, Sheikh Jamal DC yesterday made a request to the tournament committee to defer the schedule of their matches so as to ensure their participation in the tournament, also stating that they would otherwise skip the tournament.
Sheikh Jamal were invited in the second week of January and they applied for the visas immediately, but had trouble in securing Indian visas following some change in rules for granting visas to sports people. Yesterday, after the Indian sports ministry gave the green signal, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka issued visas for the local players, according to the club officials.
"We have been told by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka that they need at least 72 hours to issue visas for the foreign players. But by that time, we have two of the three group phase matches scheduled and we will have to play those matches with only local players. Some four to five key players of the side are carrying injuries and it will be impossible to play the matches without the foreign players", said Sheikh Jamal DC's football manager Anwarul Karim Helal yesterday.
The tournament kicked off yesterday and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi club, who were scheduled to face Mohun Bagan in their match of Group B, which also features Kolkata Mohammedan Sporting Club and Sikkim United.