Bangkok: Pakistan’s historic first international campaign in women’s futsal came to an end on a harsh note as Bangladesh stormed to a 9–1 win at the Nonthaburi Stadium in the 2026 SAFF Women’s Futsal Championship.
Facing one of the tournament favourites, the Shaheens were put under pressure from the first whistle. Bangladesh dominated the early exchanges and went into half-time with a commanding 6–0 lead, leaving Pakistan chasing the game in difficult circumstances.
Bangladesh Firepower Too Strong
The second half brought a brief moment of relief when Anmol Hira pulled one back for Pakistan, making it 7–1. But Bangladesh’s intensity never dropped. Sabina Khatun netted four goals, while Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Nouson Jahan (two) and Krishna Rani Sarkar (two) completed a one-sided scoreline as Bangladesh sealed their place at the top of the women’s standings. Several members of Bangladesh’s national football squad were also part of their futsal lineup, adding experience and sharpness that proved decisive.
Pakistan rotated their squad throughout the match, giving minutes to almost all players. However, this defeat marked their third straight loss, following earlier setbacks against India (5–3) and Nepal (5–1).
A Campaign of Firsts, Fatigue and Flashes of Promise
Despite the tough finish, this tournament represented a major milestone for Pakistan women’s futsal. Coached by Iranian futsal great Fatemeh Sharif Noghabi, Pakistan began their debut campaign with a 1–1 draw against Bhutan, followed by a historic first-ever win over Sri Lanka (3–2) and another victory against Maldives (3–1) before running into stronger opposition in their final three matches.
Fatigue and limited squad depth became visible in the closing games, leading to heavy reliance on captain Kayanat Bokhari, Azwa Chaudhry, Alia Sadiq and Anmol Hira. Still, there were encouraging signs for the future, with teenager Aiman Ali standing out with lively performances off the bench.
With the latest result, Pakistan sit on seven points from six matches and are expected to finish fourth or fifth in the seven-team event. Elsewhere in the women’s competition, Sri Lanka edged Maldives 7–6 in a dramatic encounter, while Bhutan caused a surprise by defeating India 2–1.
For Pakistan, the journey ends here, but their first steps into international women’s futsal have finally been taken. The scoreboard was brutal, but the experience may prove priceless.
About the author: Mohsin Rasheed is the Co-founder & Chief editor of Footballer.pk