The Bangladesh football team after a delay of flight due to bad weather have finally landed here at the Lahore Airport on Friday evening. The Bangladeshi players are here to play the second leg of the World Cup Qualifier at the Punjab Stadium on Jkly 3.
Pakistan lost in the first leg of the qualifier at Dhaka 0-3 and now they need clear 4-0 win to deem their chances in the next round. The winner of the qualifier will meet Lebanon in the second round of qualifying from Asia. The Bangladeshi team were reluctant to visit Pakistan on security ground but FIFA ruled that they would have to fulfil their commitment in Pakistan. So this is their second visit to the country for a football match but first ever at Lahore. Pakistan Football Federation official Sardar Naveed Haider said that the pitch condition in this rainy season was green and the ground staff had done their best for its maintenance after two dangal events made the ground unplayable.
“The pitch with the excessive rain in couple of days is lush green,” Haider told reporters. “The condition was revolting because of the wrestling event (Dhangal) last Sunday but I must appreciate the way groundsmen who did everything to make it a real pitch for the Pakistan-Bangladesh match.” He said. Talking to journalists on arrival, a Bangladesh official called Pakistan a brotherly country and expressed happiness on being here.
“We are happy to be in Pakistan,” Bangladesh team coach said and expressed his hope that their stay would be memorable and they would carry good wishes after playing the match. The captain insisted, “Bangladeshi people are brothers of Pakistanis and their tour could help in exchanging love with each other.”
