MALE, Maldives: Pakistan’s wait for a victory stretched to nearly three years as the Shaheens were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Bangladesh in their opening match of the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament on Monday.
The four-nation tournament got underway at the National Football Stadium, where Pakistan were unable to make their numerical advantage count after Bangladesh were reduced to 10 men in the second half.
Bangladesh captain Monjurur Rahman was shown a red card after an incident involving Pakistan goalkeeper Yousuf Butt, but the Green Shirts failed to find the breakthrough despite having an extra player on the pitch.
Debuts for Adil Nabi and Ali Khan
The match marked a significant occasion for Pakistan as Adil Nabi and Ali Khan made their senior international debuts. There was also a welcome return for Easah Suleiman, who wore the green shirt again for the first time in two years.
Head coach Nolberto Solano opted to start Yousuf Butt between the posts, while Ali Agha was preferred in midfield ahead of experienced options including Hayyan Khattak, Alamgir Ghazi and Harun Hamid.
One of the notable selection decisions saw Shayek Dost start on the bench despite arriving in camp in strong form after becoming the leading scorer for Brothers Union in Bangladesh.
Chances Come and Go
Bangladesh enjoyed more possession throughout the contest, but Pakistan created several promising opportunities on the counterattack.
However, a lack of cutting edge in the final third once again proved costly. Pakistan managed only three shots on target, all of which were comfortably dealt with by Bangladesh goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon, who kept a clean sheet.
Despite playing against 10 men for a significant period, Pakistan could not find the decisive moment that would have ended their lengthy winless run.
Important Matches Ahead
The draw leaves both Pakistan and Bangladesh with one point each in the standings.
Pakistan will now turn their attention to hosts Maldives national football team, whom they face on June 4 at the same venue. Their final league-stage fixture will be against Afghanistan national football team on June 7.
The top two teams after the round-robin stage will qualify for the tournament final, which is scheduled for June 10.
While the clean sheet will provide some encouragement, Pakistan will know that greater attacking efficiency will be required if they are to challenge for a place in the final and finally end their long search for a victory on the international stage.
Photo: AI
Mohsin is a co-founder & Chief Editor of footballer.pk