Bangladesh Face Pakistan in SAFF Semifinal Today, Eyeing a Final After 21 Years

Bangladesh have a chance to end a 21-year wait. Bangladesh last played in a SAFF final in Karachi, Pakistan, in 2005. They have not reached a final since. The chance to end that wait comes this time on home soil. Bangladesh will face Pakistan in the second semifinal at the National Stadium today at 8:30 pm. T Sports will broadcast the match live.

From before the SAFF Championship began, Bangladesh have had only one target — ending a 23-year wait for the title. Bangladesh last won the South Asian crown in 2003. But to fulfil the title dream, they must first cross this long wall of waiting for a final.

The importance of the match is not limited to a ticket to the final; it is also a chance to cut through the long frustration in Bangladesh football. That the opponent is Pakistan adds extra heat to the contest. In the previous 17 meetings between the two teams, Bangladesh have won seven, Pakistan six, and the other four matches were drawn. Bangladesh are slightly ahead on the past record.

Coach Thomas Dooley, however, does not want to determine today's outcome from that past record. In his view, this Pakistan side are one of the strongest teams in the tournament. They have four or five expatriate footballers who play in various European leagues. On top of that, Pakistan have had five straight days of rest before the semifinal.

Understanding the opponent's strength, Thomas Dooley is treating the match as a final. Speaking during training at Kings Arena yesterday, he said: 'For us, this match is a final. Every match you have to play in a tournament is a final; but this match is truly a final, because I think Pakistan are one of the best teams — or the best team among the remaining teams here. So to reach the final, we have to beat them. That is our target.'

Bangladesh can find confidence for that target in their group-stage performance. They began with a 1-0 win over Bhutan, but there were questions over the attack's effectiveness in the first match. The team answered those doubts by routing Sri Lanka 4-0 in the next match. Along with scoring five goals in two matches, Bangladesh kept their own net intact. Even Sri Lanka's German expatriate players were surprised by the speed of Bangladesh's footballers against Sri Lanka.

That speed can also be Bangladesh's big strength against Pakistan. But as much sharpness will be needed in attack, caution will be needed in defence. Bangladesh's defenders will have the responsibility of stopping Pakistani forward Najibullah, who has already scored three goals in the tournament.

Against Pakistan's tall defenders, Dooley wants to use speedy and skilled dribbling players such as Farhan Ali Wahid.

Despite the confidence, there is not complete comfort in the Bangladesh camp. Right-back Sad Uddin, who was injured against Sri Lanka, will not be able to play in the semifinal. The coach is considering Rahmat Mia, Sad's younger brother Taj Uddin, or Tariq Kazi in his place on the right. Dooley considers Sad's absence a big loss for the team. He said Sad will certainly be missed today and another player will have to fill that gap.

Topu Barman, Sohel Rana and Bishwanath Ghosh have returned to training after recovering from injury. But Dooley said a place in the eleven is not certain for these players waiting to return to the field. In his words, being out for a few weeks and then saying you are ready is not enough; if you do not do well, getting a chance is difficult — you have to show your place through performance.

In the Karachi SAFF, Bangladesh reached the final by beating this Pakistan. Dooley has prepared his team and finished arranging his tactics. Now it is the turn of Hamza, Shamit and the others to apply that plan on the field to end the long 21-year wait.