After a commendable triumph in the Intercontinental Cup, India will start their title defence in the SAFF Championship with a heavyweight battle against Pakistan on Wednesday, June 21, at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Whether it’s football or cricket, the rivalry between India and Pakistan always generates a lot of excitement and emotion among fans.
India are placed in Group A alongside Kuwait, Nepal, and Pakistan, and would be keen to start their campaign with a victory. Pakistan, who missed the last edition due to being suspended from FIFA, are still searching for their first SAFF title.
India enter the tournament with a lot of confidence, having won their last six matches with clean sheets. They have also won two successive trophies, which will boost their morale. With their eyes on a ninth SAFF title, they will also aim to strengthen their squad before the Asian Cup 2023 in Doha. In contrast, Pakistan come into this championship after a disappointing campaign in the 4-Nation Cup tournament in Mauritius, where they lost all three matches.
With the match set to take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, the atmosphere will undoubtedly be electric as the stands will be packed to witness this intense rivalry.
Head to Head record
In previous contests, India have dominated, with 13 wins to Pakistan’s 3, from 26 games. The last meeting between the two was in September 2018, during the SAFF semi-final, which India won 3-1.
Players to Watch out For
India
When it comes to players to watch out for, Sunil Chhetri is undoubtedly the top name for India. As a key player for Bengaluru FC in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), his homecoming at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium will be special. Apart from Chhetri, Sandesh Jhingan, who has been a defensive mainstay for India and played key role in maintaining those clean sheets will once again shoulder the responsibility of leading India’s defence. Lallianzuala Chhangte and Mahesh Naorem, who turned in superlative performances in the Intercontinental Cup final against Lebanon, will also be players to watch for.
Pakistan
Pakistan have named nine overseas citizens in their squad, including Otis Khan, a left-winger and Manchester United Academy graduate who currently represents Grimsby Town in the EFL League 2. His pace, dribbling skills, and accurate crosses could pose a threat to India’s defence. Another foreign citizen, Easah Suliman, who plays as a center-back, could provide a tough challenge for India’s forwards.
Where to watch the SAFF Championship game between India and Pakistan
The India vs Pakistan match in the SAFF Championship 2023 will be streamed live on the FanCode platform. The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM IST.