Pakistan Football Team’s Syria Preparations Rocked by Key Midfielder’s Injury

Pakistan football team’s preparations for their AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Syria have taken a major hit, with dynamic midfielder Adil Nabi suffering a hamstring injury during training — an untimely setback that now leaves him unlikely to feature in the 18 November clash in Islamabad.

Adil Nabi, one of Pakistan’s most technically gifted diaspora midfielders, was almost certain to make his international debut for the country after missing out earlier. Team officials immediately assessed the injury, and early indications suggest he will not recover in time for the must-win encounter at Jinnah Stadium.

The timing could not be worse for head coach Nolberto Solano, who has been banking on Pakistan’s diaspora players to give his squad proper balance. Adil Nabi’s creativity and composure in possession, qualities that could have helped unlock Syria’s disciplined defensive structure, will be sorely missed. His absence forces Pakistan to quickly rethink their midfield setup, particularly in a game where control in the center of the pitch could dictate the outcome.

In some uplifting news for Pakistani fans, however, Adil’s brother Rahis Nabi looks set to add another international cap after not representing the team for more than a year.

With Pakistan already out of the qualification picture for the Asian Cup, this setback does not hurt much in the immediate term. Yet with Syria arriving as favorites, Pakistan now face the challenge of adjusting their game plan without one of their most experienced performers.

For now, all eyes remain on Adil Nabi’s recovery timeline — but with the clock ticking toward kickoff, Pakistan may have to brace for a decisive battle without their midfield orchestrator.

Click here to read article