Confusion reigns over the fate of the second leg of Pakistan's 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Yemen, a day after deadly suicide bombings hit church buildings in Lahore, the host for the tie.
The match is scheduled to be played on Tuesday but uncertainty intensified after the visitors were forced to cancel their training session on Sunday night due to security concerns in the provincial capital after the bombings on Sunday.
Yemen did hold their official training session at the Punjab Stadium on Monday but their doctor Mohammed al-Khumesi told Dawn that his team were "worried & disturbed."
"We're worried due to the uncertainty," they said.
"The players are upset & afraid & I don't think they are mentally prepared to play the game tomorrow."
They added that Yemen were unlikely to go ahead with the game thinking about they had held training session.
"One training session isn't , they said with Yemen holding a 3-1 lead from the first leg in Doha last week.
"Our players might be lacking in fitness."
Meanwhile, the President of the Pakistan Footy Federation (PFF) said the development was "unfortunate for the game in the country" & left it to FIFA to select the fate of the match.
"Its all in FIFA's hands. Its a hard time for Pakistan footy because they get these events after such long gaps. It will be unfortunate if this chance goes away."
Amidst the confusion, though FIFA security official Adnan El-Zinzi of Egypt, who at first wanted the match to be played behind closed doors, told Dawn that "nothing was decided".
FIFA match commissioner John Windsor of Malaysia, meanwhile, cancelled the pre-match news conference of both teams to prompt more confusion.
"Any further information will be divulged by the PFF."
"We'll select the fate of the game in consultation with the Yemen team," they told Dawn.
The PFF is expected to announce the final decision on the game by 8:30pm (PST).
Yemen were keen to play the game behind closed doors, a view echoed by Windsor.
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