DHAKA, Sept 3, 2018 (BSS)- The 12th edition of Suzuki South Asian Football
Federation (SAFF) Championship, the biggest football event in South Asia,
formally begins tomorrow (Tuesday) at the country’s premier venue
Bangabanbdhu National Stadium.
On the first day of the tournament, host Bangladesh will take on Bhutan in
the group A fixture that kicks off at 7 pm following the day’s group another
opening match between Nepal and Pakistan at 4 pm.
Bangladesh will play their second group match against Pakistan on
September 6 while play their last group match against Nepal on September 8.
This is the third time-after 2003 and 2009 — Bangladesh is going to host
the seven-team tournament since its inception in 1993.
Bangladesh tasted title once in 2003 when they defeated the Maldives 1(5)-
1(3) in the final in penalty shootout at home.
Apart from host Bangladesh, defending champions India, Pakistan, Nepal,
the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Bhutan are participating in the prestigious
tournament.
India have been dominating force in the competition historically and have
claimed a stunning seven of the 11 editions held so far.
The seven teams, split into two groups, with the winner and runner-up of
each group will advance to the semi-final. The final is slated to be held on
September 15.
Established in 1993, the biennial tournament has historically featured the
seven teams that form a part of the South Asian Football Federation.
Afghanistan became a part of the SAFF in 2005 but withdrew in 2015 to join
the Central Asian Football Federation (CAFF).
The tournament was known as the South Asian Association of regional co-
operation (SAARC) Gold Cup in the inaugural 1993 edition before being changed
to the South Asian Gold Cup in 1995. It was only in the third edition held in
1997 at Nepal that the tournament began to be called as the SAFF
Championship.
Bangladesh squad – Ashraful Islam Rana, Shaidul Alam, Anisur Rahman, Nasir
Uddin Chowdhury, Waly Faisal, Topu Bormon, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Biswanath
Ghosh, Sushanto Tripura, Faisal Mahmood, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Jamal Bhuiyan,
Emon Mahmud, Mahmunul Islam Mamun, Biplob Ahmed, Sohel Rana, Mashuk Mia Zoni,
M Saad Uddin, M Shakawat Hossain Rony and Mahbubur Rahman.