Eight origin players to start for Bangladesh against Pakistan in SAFF semifinal

Bangladesh have named eight overseas-based footballers in their starting XI for the SAFF Championship 2026 semifinal against Pakistan at the National Stadium on Saturday.

Shuki Itofusa is set to make his first start in the ongoing tournament, replacing Mohammad Ibrahim in the attacking third, while the injured Saad Uddin has been replaced by Rahmat Mia at right back.

Bangladesh had gone with seven overseas-based players in their 4-0 rout of Sri Lanka. The inclusion of Shuki has taken the count to eight.

The only three locally based players are goalkeeper Mehdi Hasan Srabon, defender Rahmat and winger Rakib Hossain.

Their opponents Pakistan are also heavily dependent on origin players, with five booters flying in to join their campaign from the semifinals.

Bangladesh topped Group A with maximum points after a 4-0 win over Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Shome, Hamza, Farhaan and Rakib scored. All four start against Pakistan.

Bangladesh are chasing a second SAFF title, 23 years after their first, won on home soil in 2003.

The winner between Bangladesh and Pakistan will face India in Monday’s final.

Bangladesh XI: Mehedi Hasan Srabon (gk), Hamza Choudhury (c), Zidane Yousuf, Rahmat Mia, Shuki Itofusa, Rakib Hossain, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed, Farhaan Ali Wahid, Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah, Shamit Shome.

Pakistan XI: Yusuf Ijaz Butt (gk), Abdullah Iqbal (c), Mohib Ullah, EASAH SULIMAN, Abdul Samad Shahzad, Muhammad Ali Akbar Khan, Mckeal Aroon Abdullah, Junaid Ahmed Shah, Ali Uzair Mhamood, Haris Ali Zeb, Adil Nabi