Welcome to Dev's Digest, the regular Sky Sports column where Asian Football Award winner Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and reflects on the most significant stories affecting British South Asians in the world of football. In this edition we explore a range of topics, from the growing optimism among Indian football administrators about allowing overseas‑born players of Indian descent to wear the national jersey, to the latest developments in West Ham United's community initiatives, to a potential multi‑billion‑pound investment in Liverpool by a consortium headed by British‑Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, and to a handful of player moves and award nominations that highlight the rising profile of South Asian talent across the UK game. Indian football officials are increasingly convinced that the current eligibility rules, which require players of Indian heritage who hold foreign passports to renounce those passports before they can represent India, will soon be relaxed.
Under the present regulations, a British‑born player with Indian ancestry must give up his UK citizenship in order to be eligible for the Blue Tigers, a requirement that has discouraged many promising athletes from committing to the national side. The restriction has effectively blocked a generation of British‑Indian footballers from gaining international caps and from contributing to India's ambition to climb back into the top‑100 of the FIFA rankings. A senior figure within the All India Football Federation (AIFF) told Sky Sports News that he is "convinced" the pathway will be cleared for eligible overseas players to join the national squad.
Former Mumbai City FC chief operating officer Arunava Chaudhuri, speaking exclusively to Sky Sports News, said: "We are closer than we've ever been to seeing Overseas Citizens of India representing the Blue Tigers. Diaspora footballers from Europe can take the Indian team to another level." He added that the conversation now extends beyond football, mentioning the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, both of which could benefit from a stronger, more diverse footballing representation. The story of British‑Indian players seeking to play for India is not new.
Sky Sports News has been tracking it for over a decade. In 2014, former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra announced his desire to represent India, noting that cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar had offered to help him achieve the goal. Three years later, Danny Batth – then a new signing for Millwall whose father was born in Punjab – told senior Sky Sports correspondent Rob Dorsett that he too harboured ambitions of wearing the Indian shirt. While those individual pleas have not yet resulted in a cap, the cumulative pressure appears to be shifting the AIFF's stance.
Turning to club football, West Ham United's interim chief executive Karim Virani used a recent Inclusive Irons event, co‑hosted with Desi Ballers, to underline the club's commitment to equality and inclusion. Speaking at the South Asian Heritage Month celebration, Virani emphasized that West Ham's primary objective for the season is to secure promotion back to the Premier League after a disappointing relegation finish. He also highlighted the club's broader social responsibility: "We should never forget the responsibility we have as a football club to drive positive action and impact off the pitch too. Personally I'm incredibly passionate about West Ham being at the forefront of championing equality and celebrating inclusion, and ensuring all of our matches – men's, women's and academy – are environments where everyone feels welcome." The event featured club ambassadors Matt Jarvis and Bobby Seagull and showcased the 2025/26 British South Asians in Football Team of the Season.
In other high‑profile news, a consortium led by British‑Indian businessman Amit Bhatia is reportedly on the verge of acquiring roughly one‑third of Liverpool FC. The investment group includes technology magnates such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co‑founder Eduardo Saverin. If the deal goes through, the valuation of Liverpool could reach around £4.4 billion ($6 billion), placing it among the most expensive football transactions ever recorded. Sky Sports News has reached out to both Liverpool and the Fenway Sports Group for comment, but no official statement has been released yet.
The English Football League (EFL) resumes on Friday, offering a timely moment to revisit one of the most memorable Championship debuts in recent memory. Eight years ago, Yan Dhanda made his first senior appearance for Swansea City against Sheffield United, a match that encapsulated the dream‑like quality of a young player’s breakthrough. Dhanda, then 19, recalled the excitement of being on the bench and the surreal feeling when Graham Potter signalled his substitution: "All night I'd been dreaming of coming on and scoring. I was texting my cousin the night before, imagining the moment.
When the ball fell to me, I just hit it and everything became a blur – my dad and cousin were in the stands, and it was honestly the best feeling ever." That goal helped cement Dhanda's reputation as a promising talent and remains a touchstone for aspiring South Asian footballers. Further player movements highlighted in Dev's Digest include Fulham youngster Farhaan Ali Wahid joining National League side Boreham Wood on loan, giving him his first taste of senior football after a prolific season in the Premier League 2 where he contributed 17 goals and assists in 21 appearances.
Riya Mannu completed a transfer to West Bromwich Albion Women, while Pakistan international Zahmena Malik signed for Actonians, both moves revealed exclusively by Sky Sports News. These transfers illustrate the growing pipeline of South Asian talent across both men's and women's football in the UK. On the medical side of the sport, Dr.
Zaf Iqbal and Pakistan international Mariam Mahmood have been shortlisted for the Sports Personality of the Year award at the Asian Achievers Awards. Dr. Iqbal, who recently left Arsenal after playing a key role in ending their 22‑year Premier League title drought and guiding them to a Champions League final, is widely respected for his work at top clubs including Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. He has also chaired the Premier League Doctors Group and co‑chaired the FA Medical Society.
His contributions to player welfare were especially notable during the 2020/21 season when Sky Sports News reported that Leicester City’s Monday Night Football fixture was temporarily halted to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast – a pioneering accommodation that has since become standard practice across the league. Mariam Mahmood has enjoyed a breakout year, debuting for Pakistan last summer and scoring three goals in her first four international caps before moving to Wrexham.
At Wrexham she helped the club secure a league and cup double and achieve qualification for European competition for the first time in its history. Finally, a reminder that nominations for the 2026 Asian Football Awards close next week. Fans and industry insiders can submit entries across categories covering professional, non‑league, grassroots and coaching achievements via the Asian Football Awards website. For more stories, features and video content, readers are encouraged to visit the dedicated South Asians in Football hub on skysports.com and to share their own perspectives with the Dev's Digest team.
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