SAFF Championship 2013: India vs Pakistan – Key individual battles

Sportskeeda lists the key individual battles of tomorrow’s India-Pakistan showdown at SAFF Championship 2013.

Sunil Chhetri – Zesh Rehman

Sunil Chhetri

This will possibly be the most high-profile individual duel of the tournament as one of the best strikers of the region goes up against one of the best defenders.

Sunil has happy memories of playing against Pakistan, having scored his first international goal against them, and he also got on the scoresheet when the teams last met in an AFC Challenge Cup qualifier two years ago.

The Indian captain has never faced Zesh at international level, but the two did come up against each other at this year’s AFC Cup when Churchill Brothers faced Hong Kong’s Kitchee home and away. Sunil failed to get on the scoresheet in both matches and thus will have to raise his game to get the better of Zesh, who has played for Fulham in the English Premier League.

Zesh’s quality is unquestionable, but he will be appearing in the SAFF Championship after eight years and will quickly have to form an understanding with the rest of his teammates, especially the defence.

Pakistan will be fully aware that India doesn’t have much of a goal threat besides Sunil, so if Zesh can stop the Bengaluru FC forward, the green shirts will have a very good chance of keeping a clean sheet in a bid to make a winning start.

Mehtab Hossain – Adnan Ahmed

Mehtab Hossain(L)

Although the Sunil-Zesh battle will make most of the headlines, it is the midfield duel between Mehtab and Adnan that could decide the match.

Former Manchester United youngster Adnan is by far Pakistan’s most creative player and an excellent passer, so the majority of Pakistan’s attacks are expected to come through him. India will have to stop Adnan from dictating the play and midfield general Mehtab is their man to do that job.

The East Bengal man had some very good outings in this year’s AFC Cup where he faced some quality midfielders around the continent and he would be aiming for a strong performance in this game also.

Mehtab, however, does tend to make some rough tackles and thus, he would have to be careful of not getting sent off while trying to stop Adnan from providing service to the Pakistan forwards.

This is Mehtab’s second SAFF Championship after 2005 and there is a huge contrast now, as eight years ago he operated as a second striker.

With the defence not in good form, Mehtab has a huge task of protecting the back four while Adnan will try to get away from India’s holding midfielder and even run at their backline, given his ability to dribble past players. The winner of this battle could end up on the winning side.

Gouramangi Singh – Hassan Bashir

Gouramangi Singh

While Pakistan would look to stop Sunil, India have the difficult task of containing Denmark-based striker Hassan Bashir.

The 26-year-old was born in Denmark but became a Pakistan international last year and was their best player over the two friendlies against Nepal earlier this year.

Bashir is a classic number nine and is a very fast player and thus, India’s most experienced central defender, Gouramangi Singh will have to get his positioning right. The Manipuri didn’t have the best of seasons at club level, but his experience at international level is priceless for this young-looking India side.

Koevermans may not go for man-marking, but Gouramangi possibly will be the deeper of the two centrebacks as his partner Arnab Mondal is likely to pick up the other Pakistan striker Kaleemullah, who could drop to a withdrawn role at times.

Gouramangi is expected to win the aerial battles with Bashir but will have to use all his experience in the one-on-one situations. India have kept just three clean sheets in nine matches under Koevermans, but must aim to keep one in this game given the goal scoring problems. And to achieve that, Bashir must be stopped, so Gouramangi will have to be at his very best.