Sruti Chakraborty
AIFF Media Team

KATHMANDU, NEPAL: The very promise of an India-Pakistan clash in the sporting arena is always a mouth-watering prospect, no matter which the discipline is.

There is one in the offing on Thursday, October 17, 2024, when India take on Pakistan in the Group A league tie of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2024 at the iconic Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu. The stadium has been the stage for countless memorable sporting moments; the battle on Thursday will be yet another feather in its cap. The match will be streamed live on FanCode from 5.15 pm, IST.

The match will also be a glorious moment in the dazzling career of seasoned Blue Tigresses defender and skipper Ashalata Devi, who will become India’s first woman footballer to play 100 international matches. Ashalata is all focused on the game and has set her goals. 

“Our first match is against Pakistan, and it's a crucial one for us. The first game always sets the tone, and if we start strong, we can approach the rest with a bit less pressure”, she said. 

“It’s always exciting to face a team like Pakistan. We have a lot of respect for them. They have grown as a unit. Last time, we won against them, but we are not taking them lightly. They are motivated, prepared well and will surely put up a good fight,” felt Ashalata.

“I feel the competition is much stronger this year, with all the teams making significant improvements. Everyone is dreaming of winning the trophy like us. But this year, we are confident we can bring it home," Asha smiled. 

The last meeting between the two sides on September 7, 2022, in the SAFF Women’s Championship at the same venue resulted in a comprehensive 3-0 victory for India. 

Never having lost to Pakistan before, India will come into this match as favourites, with a balanced squad having a mixture of young and senior players who have gained international exposure. The team will look to keep the pressure on Pakistan's defence and aim to maintain their perfect record against Pakistan.

“Every team is giving their best effort. I have watched Pakistan’s recent matches, including the one against Singapore, where they put up a tough fight and narrowly lost 1-0. They have strong physicality and play good football," said head coach Santosh Kashyap ahead of the clash. 

“All the teams are very close in terms of quality, and they fight hard. Whether it’s the men’s or women’s teams, we can’t afford to think we are the favourites and will win easily. It won’t be like that for sure and we have to battle for every moment in every match.

“I have also seen Bangladesh and Nepal play, and I expect all the games to be closely contested. So what happens on match day can be unpredictable. It depends on how the players perform under pressure and other factors. When playing away, the home crowd can also make a big difference to a team’s performance. We are well-prepared and confident. I am happy with the progress they have made so far and will go in with a positive mindset and aim to give our best," he said. 

When asked about Ashalata Devi's milestone, coach Kashyap said, “It's a great achievement for her as well as for women's football. I always tell young players to look up to her and how she has maintained herself for such a long time. She has great leadership qualities and I wish her all the best for the coming years and wish she will complete 200, 300 matches as well."

While India holds the advantage in terms of historical success and current FIFA rankings, Pakistan will be aiming to upset the odds and stage a spirited challenge.

For Pakistan, the focus will be on resilience and putting up a much stronger fight than in previous encounters against India. With players like Maria Khan leading the charge and Nadia Khan, who will make a comeback after a year from her injury, will definitely be no pushovers.

Skipper Maria Khan is an experienced midfielder, who plies her trade for Saudi Arabian pro side Eastern Flames. Two other Pakistan players, goalkeeper Rumaysa Khan and striker Isra Khan, play in Canada and the United States, respectively.   

Pakistan Head coach Adeel Rizki said, ”I think it will be an interesting match, India have prepared well. They have a new coach as well, so they have new strategies, we don’t know what to expect. It’s a good rivalry. We respect them in terms of how they play and what they’ve done in the past. On the other hand, we have done well and have grown a lot from last time. We hope we can perform and have a good game against India tomorrow.”