Sleepless Jamal angry over late substitution, questions tactics after SAFF exit

Bangladesh midfielder Jamal Bhuyan has questioned the team’s tactics, substitutions and management after the 1-0 defeat to Pakistan in the SAFF Championship semi-final on Saturday.

He spoke to reporters as the players left the team hotel on Sunday.

Bangladesh began the tournament as favourites, and football circles have criticised several aspects of the side since the exit.

Jamal was the first senior player to answer publicly, and his words carried plenty of frustration.

He began with how the night had left him.

“I feel really bad. I couldn't sleep. I was in Hamza’s room all night, until 6am. Actually, I thought I would be brought onto the pitch much earlier. But we came on in the second minute of added time after the 90 minutes. I spoke a lot about this after the match. I was very angry.”

Hamza’s goalkeeper-error moment decided the match, but Jamal’s complaint was about the plan. Srabon had kept Bangladesh in the game for 85 minutes, before his attempt to launch a counter handed the ball to Pakistan substitute Hayyan Khattak.

Khattak found Abdul Samad Shahzad inside the box, and Samad’s low left-footed shot from the right beat the diving goalkeeper. Bangladesh could not recover, and Pakistan reached the final.

On the tactical side, Jamal felt the team lacked answers.

“We could not play like we did in the previous match. One reason for that could be a tactical deficiency. Did Pakistan bring a completely new tactic for us? We knew they would play with five defenders. Usually, there are certain tactics or solutions for playing against five defenders. But in this match, we could not find any solution. That is disappointing.”

His anger over the substitution was the sharpest part of his comments.

“Everyone in the team was tired then. I thought I would be brought on much earlier. The three of us were told to get ready together in the 86th minute. But in the end, we came onto the pitch in the second minute of added time after the 90 minutes. It is only natural for me to be angry. I do not think it was the right decision. But that is life. At the end of the day, we lost and could not play in the final either.”

He then turned to workload. Hamza Choudhury played all 90 minutes of the 4-0 win over Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh faced Pakistan just 48 hours later. Jamal considers that a mistake.

“After the match, the coach spoke to everyone in the dressing room. He raised several issues. But it is not enough for only the players to learn; the management also has to learn. In the previous match, when we were leading 2-0, we should have considered resting important players. Everyone is important, but a player like Hamza needed rest. Because we had another match just 48 hours later. There were some mistakes here. But in the end, it is the coach’s decision who plays and who does not.”