SAFF Cup Preview: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh

SAFF Cup Preview: Pakistan vs. Bangladesh

Pakistan take on Bangladesh at Jawarlal Nehru Stadium on the 2^nd of December, for their opening fixture of the 2011 SAFF Cup. With Bangladesh coming out on top in the last encounter between the two sides, Pakistan will be looking to avenge their
defeat and salvage some much needed pride.

Pakistan:

The Green-Kickers are not in the best of form coming into the prestigious competition. Having been knocked out of all their qualifiers this year, the pressure on the team to perform is surely immense.

Their failure to play any International friendlies before the match could also come back to haunt them, as their arranged tour to Thailand was cancelled and they had to make do by playing local Pakistan Premier League sides.

Bangladesh:

Nikola Ilievski’s men will be relishing the kick-off against their rivals, whom they were able to comfortably beat 3-0 in the World Cup qualifiers.

The coach hasn’t revealed much about his methods before the crunch game and was reserved in front of reporters, who bombarded him with questions about the team.

“My team will play good football and we want to be the champions. I do not like to give too many interviews on my tactics and training.”

“I am no astrologer who can predict before the match,” he said.

Team News:

Pakistan:

The inclusion of foreign players Adnan Ahmed and Atif Bashir is seen as a positive step by the PFF. But the biggest news has been the appointment of Zaviša Milosavljevi? as the head coach.  

The Serbian faces a daunting task in the SAFF Cup but will keen to show that he is the right man for the job after Tariq Lutfi’s departure. Pakistan’s squad this time features the likes of Muhammad Rizwan Asif, Jadeed Khan Pathan and Kaleemullah, while striker
Shakir Lashari has been called back into the National team fold.

Bangladesh:

Under the tutelage of Nikola Ilievski, the Bengal Tigers have become a force to be reckoned with and nearly upset Lebanon in their World Cup qualifiers.

Boasting the likes of Mohammed Zahid Hossain and Mohamed Zahid Hasan Ameli in their ranks, they will be again looking to counter the Pakistan side, whom they defeated earlier this year.

Key Players:

Adnan Ahmed:

The former Manchester United man has proven that he is one of the best midfielders available to Pakistan. And his efforts on the pitch will be key in Zaviša Milosavljevi?’s men gaining a result in Delhi.

Mohamed Zahid Hasan Ameli:

The forward has already scored once against Pakistani opposition and will be looking to do the same when the two sides lock horn in the opening game of Group B.

Prediction:

Bangladesh 2:1 Pakistan

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Posted by Shahrukh Sohail on Dec 1 2011. Filed under Pakistan, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry