The international friendly match between India and Jordan will be played as scheduled amidst claims game has been called off due to uncertain reasons.
The Indian team management had initially called off the match after failing to conduct a single training session for the players to adapt to the conditions. But under orders from the All India Football Federation, the players have been forced to take the field in Amman on Saturday.
It is also to keep in mind that almost 1/3rd of the 17-member playing squad reached Amman (match city) late on Friday night after their flight from Delhi was diverted to Kuwait, where the players along with some of the officials were left stranded for over 32 hours.
Incessant rainfall along with heavy lightning, thunderstorms, and floods was the reason their flight was diverted to Kuwait City airport enroute Amman. What followed was tiring both physically and mentally as the players endured several flight postponements and cancellation with rains not looking to stop.
Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh, Manvir Singh, Sumeet Passi, Udanta Singh, Halicharan Narzary, Ashique Kuruniyan along with some members of the support staff eventually reached Amman late on Friday night after reaming stranded on Kuwait airport for 32 hours.
But on reaching the hotel the players found out that their luggage was misplaced, which included their kits, football boots, team equipments, and personal belongings. The players were only left with their national team jerseys and are expected to play Jordan wearing new boots and without any practise session.
As per reports, the seven players had reached Kuwait airport at around 6:30 am on Thursday but could only take off for Amman on Friday at 2:54 pm local time. The other squad members had reached the host city on Thursday night.
Eventually, the entirety of the squad assembled at the team hotel at 11 pm on Friday night with just hours remaining for the Jordan friendly. The players were undoubtedly exhausted both mentally and physically but now have been forced to play without any training session.
India now plays Jordan at the King Abdullah II Stadium at 10:30 on Saturday.