Pakistan's star defender and captain Easah Suliman will be out for two months after suffering a medial meniscus tear while playing for Sumqayit FC, which features in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Suliman underwent successful operation earlier today but he will miss the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying matches against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan next month.
Pakistan will face Saudi Arabia, away from home, on November 16 before hosting Tajikistan on 21st of the same month.
It must be noted that Suliman played a key role in defense as Pakistan beat Cambodia 1-0 to register first win in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers history in Islamabad on October 17.
View this post on Instagram
Harun Hamid scored the winning goal for Pakistan in the 67th minute of the second leg after the first leg of the tie between the two sides ended goalless in Cambodia.
Meanwhile, forward Otis Khan is optimistic regarding the possibility of rejoining the Pakistan team, even though he was unable to participate in a World Cup qualifier earlier this month.
Khan, 28, was informed just two hours prior to the match that he would be unable to take part in the game against Cambodia.
He had previously made his debut against Mauritius, but a question regarding his eligibility led to his exclusion.
"I'm sure it will be resolved," Khan told BBC Radio Humberside.
"The conversation has been positive. Things are looking well at the moment. I've got a Pakistani passport and an identity card.
"Fifa need to get a few more letters and documents from the Pakistani government, and I'm sure it'll be resolved."
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) have pushed Khan's case. The PFF stated, after Khan was unable to participate in the match against Cambodia: "The issue revolves around a specific requirement that one of Otis' grandparents must have been born in Pakistan.
"In his case, his grandfather was born in Delhi, British India, prior to the partition and subsequently migrated to Pakistan, like millions of others. Fifa has neither confirmed his ineligibility nor definitively declared him eligible, and their decision remains pending.
"We want to emphasise that we are actively collaborating with Fifa to address this matter comprehensively."