Unfamiliar Pakistan test awaits Bangladesh

Following an expected winning start in the SAFF Women's Championship as Bangladesh handed an emphatic 3-0 defeat to Maldives, the women in red and green are now fully focused on their Saturday's hurdle against Pakistan, an opponent Bangladesh never faced in the previous five editions of the regional women's championship.

Before departing for Kathmandu, Bangladesh had expressed their desire to progress match by match to confirm their semifinal berth first, before facing India in group's last match, and they will definitely be hoping for a second successive victory to make it to the last-four battles.

However, the charges of Golam Rabbani Choton are apparently going to face a tough challenge from Pakistan – who really showed their character during their 3-0 loss to five-time champions India, especially after coming into the international match for the first time in eight years.

Pakistan were once humiliated 8-0 at the hands of India during the maiden SAFF appearance in the 2010 edition. Afterwards, they were away from playing international matches since 2014 following the FIFA suspension. However, they showed stiff resistance in defence against India after playing against their neighbours 12 years later.

Pakistan held their superior opponents for more than one hour in between the second and third goal, having conceded the lead in 21 minutes with an own goal. Pakistan included experienced players, including striker-turn-defender Hajra Khan and keeper Mahpara Sahaid, who were part of their last SAFF campaign in 2013.

Nevertheless, India had total control over the game against Pakistan and built up the attack from both flanks but the comparatively taller Pakistani players repeatedly foiled the Indian crosses by deploying players in numbers in the backline.

The Pakistan women are also expected to do the same thing against Bangladesh. The two sides never played against each other at the national level. However, at the age-level competitions, Bangladesh U-18 and U-15 teams had beaten their Pakistani counterparts by 17-0 and 14-0, respectively, in 2018. Also, the Bangladesh U-14 girls once played against their Pakistani counterparts during the AFC U-14 Football Festival in Islamabad in 2006.

"We know Pakistan have some good players, with two of their players are from abroad," said Bangladesh defender Masura Parvin on Thursday after having gone through a recovery session following their victory over Maldives.

"Whoever is the opponent, our target has always been to play competitive matches in a bid to show a point that the girls in Bangladesh are not behind at international level. When we take to the field, we always try to give our 100 per cent irrespective of the outcomes of the match," Masura added.

Masura, who also struck one of three goals against Maldives, wants to wait for the first 10 to 15 minutes to watch the way Pakistan play and then finalise their strategy, like how they operated against Maldives.

"We could not be successful through the flanks because 11 Maldivian players defended us from the beginning. Then we decided to play on the ground instead of wing play and muster shot from distance and eventually left the ground with a victory," said the player from Satkhira.

Pakistan so far won four out of 10 matches they played in the first three SAFF Championships and those wins came against Maldives twice, Bhutan once and Afghanistan once.

As far as Bangladesh are concerned, their forwards need to stay calm upfront to convert their chances if they are to ensure their semifinal berth before facing unconquered India in the group third and final match.