Pakistan’s men’s national team opened their SAFF Championship 2026 campaign with a 3-2 defeat to defending champions India at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Thursday. India led 3-0 at half-time through Suhail Ahmad Bhat’s brace and a Manglenthang Kipgen strike, before Najeebullah and Alamgir Ghazi scored in stoppage time to make the finish tense.
India, fielding a second-string side under under-23 coach Naushad Moosa because many senior players were unavailable outside the FIFA window, controlled the first half. Bhat opened the scoring in the 13th minute, finishing from close range after Muhammed Suhail’s cross. Six minutes later he doubled the lead, slotting home after a through-ball from Abhishek Suryavanshi. Kipgen made it 3-0 in the 31st minute, converting a pass from Noufal PN.
Pakistan had a chance to reduce the deficit when Hayyaan Khattak won a penalty around the 34th minute, but Shayak Dost blasted the kick over the bar. The visitors struggled to impose themselves early and were missing several key players who had featured in the recent ASEAN Cup.
Coach Nolberto Solano made changes, introducing McKeal Abdullah early and further adjustments at the break and later. Injuries forced the withdrawal of Abdul Rehman and Dost. Pakistan created little until the final moments. In the second minute of stoppage time, Najeebullah headed home a Junaid Shah cross for his first international goal. Two minutes later, Alamgir Ghazi produced the standout moment of the match: controlling a delivery from McKeal Abdullah with his back to goal, he lifted the ball and connected with a spectacular overhead kick that found the far corner.
India held on for the three points. The result leaves Pakistan on zero points in Group B after one match. They face Maldives on Sunday, 8 November, in a game they need a positive result from to keep semi-final hopes alive. The top two teams from each group advance. India play Maldives on 11 November.
Solano was critical of the opening period afterwards. “I believe the first half we didn’t start that well, was a little bit slow. And India took the chances, every chance we gave away they took,” he said. He added that the first goals were “too easy” and that “we were sleeping,” while noting physical concerns and the limited competitive football many Pakistani players receive. He was more positive about the late response but said the reaction should have come earlier. Ghazi echoed the assessment of a poor first half and the need to win the next match.
The late fightback offered encouragement and marked the first time since 2005 that Pakistan had scored twice against India. Yet the first-half deficit proved decisive against a higher-ranked opponent. Pakistan must now show greater intensity and organisation from the start against Maldives if they are to progress.
About Author: Mohsin Rasheed is a Co-founder of footballer.pk
Mohsin is a Founder & Chief Editor of footballer.pk