Welcome to Dev's Digest, the regular Sky Sports column where Asian Football Award winner Dev Trehan shares exclusive scoops and offers his take on the most important stories affecting British South Asians in the beautiful game. According to an exclusive report from Sky Sports News, the administrators of Indian football are growing increasingly optimistic that players of Indian descent who have grown up and trained in the United Kingdom will soon be permitted to wear the national jersey. At present, the eligibility rules dictate that any footballer of Indian heritage who holds a foreign passport must relinquish that passport before they can be called up to the senior side. This restriction has long blocked British‑Indian talent from gaining international caps and from contributing to India's ambition of re‑entering the top‑100 nations in the FIFA world rankings.
In a recent interview, a senior official from the All India Football Federation confided to Sky Sports News that he is "convinced" the regulatory hurdles will soon be removed, clearing a pathway for eligible overseas‑based players to represent the Blue Tigers. Former Mumbai City FC chief operating officer Arunava Chaudhuri reacted to the news with enthusiasm, stating: "We are closer than ever to seeing Overseas Citizens of India on the field for the Blue Tigers. Diaspora footballers from Europe have the potential to elevate the Indian team to a whole new level." He went on to add that the discussion extends beyond football, pointing to India’s upcoming hosting of the Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and the nation’s bid to stage the 2036 Olympic Games as further motivation for a more inclusive sporting policy.
Sky Sports News has been tracking the aspirations of British‑born players of Indian origin for more than ten years. In 2014, former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra publicly declared his willingness to play for India, noting that cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar had offered to help him navigate the paperwork. Three years later, Danny Batth – who had just completed a move to Millwall and whose father was born in Punjab – told senior Sky correspondent Rob Dorsett that he too dreamed of wearing the Indian colors. The conversation about inclusion also surfaced during a West Ham United event celebrating South Asian Heritage Month.
Interim chief executive Karim Virani, speaking at a gathering with the Desi Ballers and club ambassadors Matt Jarvis and Bobby Seagull, underscored West Ham’s commitment to equality and community impact. While the club’s immediate priority is to secure promotion back to the Premier League after a relegation‑inducing 18th‑place finish, Virani emphasized that the organisation must also champion inclusion on and off the pitch, ensuring that all matches – men’s, women’s and academy – are welcoming spaces. In parallel football business news, a consortium led by British‑Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia is reportedly on the brink of acquiring roughly a one‑third stake in Liverpool FC. The investor group includes high‑profile names such as Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co‑founder Eduardo Saverin.
If the deal proceeds, it would value Liverpool at about £4.4 billion (approximately $6 billion), placing it among the most valuable transactions in the sport’s history. Both Liverpool and the Fenway Sports Group have been contacted for comment. Turning to on‑field action, the EFL’s return this Friday provides a timely moment to revisit one of the author’s favorite Championship memories from eight seasons ago. Yan Dhanda’s debut for Swansea City against Sheffield United remains a classic dream‑debut story.
The match, played at Bramall Lane, was deadlocked at 1‑1 when Graham Potter, newly appointed at Swansea, summoned the 19‑year‑old from the bench. Dhanda recalled the anticipation: "I’d been dreaming all night about coming on and scoring.
My cousin was texting me, saying imagine if I score on my debut – it felt like a movie." Within seconds of entering the field, the ball fell to him in a prime position, and he struck it home. The goal was witnessed by his father and cousin in the stands and left Dhanda describing the moment as "the best feeling ever." In recent transfer news, Fulham academy prospect Farhaan Ali Wahid has secured a loan move to National League side Boreham Wood, offering him his first taste of senior football after a standout season in Premier League 2 where he recorded 17 goal contributions in 21 appearances and earned a nomination for PL2 Player of the Season. Meanwhile, Riya Mannu has completed a switch to West Bromwich Albion Women, and Pakistan international Zahmena Malik has joined Actonians – both moves revealed exclusively by Sky Sports News in the latest edition of Dev’s Digest. The Asian Achievers Awards have announced that Dr.
Zaf Iqbal and Pakistan international Mariam Mahmood are shortlisted for Sports Personality of the Year. Dr. Iqbal, who departed Arsenal after helping the Gunners end a 22‑year wait for a Premier League title and guiding them to their first Champions League final in two decades, is widely respected in English football circles, having served as chair of the Premier League Doctors Group and co‑chair of the FA Medical Society.
His career also includes stints at Liverpool, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. Dr.
Iqbal played a pivotal role during the 2020/21 season when Sky Sports News broke the story that Leicester City’s Monday Night Football fixture against Crystal Palace was temporarily halted to allow Muslim players to break their Ramadan fast – a first in Premier League history. By 2023, this practice had become standard across the leagues, with match officials instructed to create natural pauses for players observing the fast during evening games. Mariam Mahmood has enjoyed a breakout year: after debuting for Pakistan last summer, she netted three goals in her first four international caps before moving to Wrexham. At Wrexham she helped secure a league and cup double and played a key part in the club’s historic qualification for European competition.
Finally, nominations for the 2026 Asian Football Awards close next week. The public can submit entries across a variety of categories – from professional and non‑league football to grassroots initiatives and coaching – via the Asian Football Awards website. For more stories, features and video content, visit the pioneering South Asians in Football hub on skysports.com, and feel free to get in touch with us to share your perspective.
Play Super 6 for a chance to win £250 k – entry is free.