Bangladesh's SAFF Championship 2026 campaign ended in heartbreak on Saturday as a late error from Mehdi Hasan Srabon handed Pakistan a 1-0 semifinal victory at the National Stadium. The hosts were left to rue another missed opportunity on home soil, with the ghost of 2018 returning to haunt them once again.

Captain's stance

Despite the crushing nature of the defeat, Bangladesh captain Hamza Choudhury refused to point fingers at any of his teammates. In an emotional appeal, he urged supporters not to single out any individual for the costly mistake that ended their title hopes.

Match overview

The decisive moment came in the closing stages when Srabon's error allowed Pakistan to snatch the winner. The defeat means Bangladesh's wait for a first SAFF Championship title continues, with familiar demons resurfacing at the worst possible time.

Message to supporters

Choudhury emphasized that the failure was a collective one, not the burden of a single player. He called on the team to learn from the painful experience and move forward together, even as the disappointment of another early exit lingers.