Riot Games Issues Notification for Valorant Players from Pakistan

On 22nd December, Riot Games released a notification titled "Notification for Players from Pakistan on Participation in MENA Challenger League" that acknowledged the current challenges faced by players from Pakistan and their ability to participate in the Valorant Challenger Leagues. The publisher noted that it was actively working to create a more streamlined solution for the upcoming seasons.

It currently recommended that Valorant players from Pakistan follow the Import Residency Rule for Challenger Leagues and encouraged them to participate in the MENA [Middle East & North Africa] Challenger League (CL) or any other CL, as "imports."

Pakistan Players Urged to Participate in Valorant CL as Imports

Riot Games wrote in its notification, "We are actively working towards a more streamlined and comprehensive solution for the 2024+ seasons, especially if there is increased interest from Pakistan in playing Premier..."

It added that it will swiftly take more measures if there is an increased participation of players in Premier, the in-game mode that allows players to have a shot at competing in the Challenger Leagues.

Riot Games added, "Our goal is to offer an improved pathway for players from Pakistan within the Challenger Leagues to fully realize the ‘Path to Pro’ in Valorant Esports."

It recommended and urged players from Pakistan to participate in Challenger Leagues as imports and follow the Import Residency Rule.

According to Riot Games' 'Import Residency Rule,' a team competing in a regional CL should include a minimum of three out of five players from that specific region. For instance, a team competing in the MENA Challenger League must, have at least three players residing within the MENA region. The other two slots can be filled by imports from any other region.

It added, "This allows Pakistani players to engage in CL competitions, adhering to the Import Residency Rule's guidelines."

Prior issues with Pakistan Valorant Players' Visa

Earlier, at the start of 2023, amidst the excitement about the Valorant Challengers League South Asia, esports athletes from Pakistan discussed some of the difficulties they were facing.

According to the rule book, players from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and Maldives could take part in the Valorant Challengers League South Asia tournament. However, the tournament organizers made it clear that it would be the responsibility of the players or the teams to ensure that the players get a visa for India should they qualify for the league stage of the competition.

The Pakistani players, however, claimed that it would be impossible for them to show up to a LAN in India by acquiring visas, given the difficulties.

Many Pakistani Valorant players had urged Riot Games to move their region to MENA by default. Abdul "k1Ng" Khero said, “I believe the only sole solution would be to shift PK [Pakistan] to MENA but I believe Riot doesn't have enough time to make a decision about the Pakistani players. We knew that this would happen soon when the COVID situation eases but didn't expect this from Riot. Utterly disappointed.”

Following this, in February 2023, Riot Games India & South Asia Esports Lead Sukamal Pegu and Head of Valorant Esports for Asia Pacific Jake Sin replied to Valorant pro Hamza "BeasT" Shakir. Pegu had assured that Riot Games was working on a permanent solution to the issue and that more updates shall be given soon.

Keeping up the word, on 22nd December, Pegu issued a follow-up statement. He wrote on Twitter, "VALORANT players in Pakistan. We have started the process towards the full resolution. Apologies for the delay and we hope to see our Pros on stages which do justice to the immense talent the region has!"