The Pakistan football team would go all guns blazing against the visiting Bangladesh team in the home-leg of the World Cup qualifier match at Punjab Stadium today. In a pre-match press conference here at the Football House, Pakistan’s chief coach Tariq Lutfi said that they have no option but to go all out and make the defence strong.
Pakistan lost to Bangladesh 0-3 in the away leg of the World Cup Qualifier held at Dhaka. In order to remain in contention, the green shirts require a clear 4-0 win in their home game.
“We got to have an attacking approach if we want to win and should be wary of the counterattack. We have no option but to go all out and make the base strong to counter the attacks,” said Lutfi. “We are wary of the home advantage and want to make full use of the home ground. The conditions are quite friendly for us as compared to Dhaka where we had to play on a soggy pitch,” said Lutfi.
“We have lodged a complaint with the match commissioner against the conditions in Dhaka which was not suitable to play. There was heavy rain and it was difficult for the players to move easily. And that was the main reason of the team’s loss in Dhaka,” Lutfi added. “Bangladesh is a strong side and we have to play good football to win,” said he. On the other hand, Bangladesh team official Syed Hasan Kanon said they would prefer their natural game and won’t be defensive. “We would play as we are used to playing and try to get as many goals as we can. Although we have an advantage of a win but we will not change our approach,” said he.
Kanon further stated that Pakistan had nothing to lose and his team was aware of the fact. “Pakistan have no choice but to win and not just a win, but a have a good margin win to move ahead. We are here to play football and play their game and let the good team win the match.
“Bangladesh beat Pakistan on several occasions and would not get home ground advantage to snatch victory this time. I believe whoever plays well, would win the match and whoever wins we would like the friendly relations of the two countries to flourish,” he added. Skipper Biplob said: “All the players know each other and we have been playing for a long time together and have judged the strengths of Pakistan.
We just need to get set again like we did in Dhaka and we hope to beat them again.” The pitch at the Punjab Stadium although full of grass would be quite heavy to play on due to recent monsoon rains and the likely chance is that the match would be played under rain.
The details of Pak official are: Tariq Lutfi, head coach, Nasir Jamal assistant coach, Gohar Zaman, team manager, Aslam Khan, goal keeper coach, Dr. Kamran Mehdi, physio and M. Irfan Niazi, media manager.
Bangladesh officials: Mr. Nicola Alviscky, head coach, Syed Hassan team manager, Mr. Fazal-ul-Rehman chief the mission and Biplop Bhatacharje captain.
AFP adds: Bangladeshi football chiefs said security arrangements for their game away at Pakistan were “satisfactory”. Bangladesh, who won the first leg in Dhaka 3-0 Wednesday, had been concerned about safety in Pakistan, where no major international sporting event has taken place since an attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team bus in 2009.
Bangladesh had requested FIFA relocate the match on security grounds, but that was rejected after Pakistan gave assurances.
Sunday’s second leg will be played at Punjab football stadium, barely a mile away from where the Sri Lankan team was attacked on their way to play a Test match. “We had some reservations on security prior to coming here, but the arrangements made by Pakistani authorities are satisfactory,” Bangladesh delegate Fazlur Rehman told reporters Saturday. Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) secretary Ahmed Yar Khan Lodhi said he had no concerns.
“We have provided the best possible security for the visiting team, around their hotel and in the stadium, so we hope there will be no worries on that front,” said Lodhi.
The 2009 attack in the city killed eight people and left seven Sri Lankan players and their assistant coach injured, and made Pakistan a virtual no-go for international sports teams.
