The Bangladesh-Pakistan second leg match will be held at the People's Sports Complex Stadium in Karachi on December 26.

It would be a tough task for the SAFF Championship runners-up to reach the qualifying rounds, especially after drawing 0-0 with Pakistan at home on Wednesday. But coach Diego Cruciani and captain Arif Khan Joy were hopeful that they would be able to lift the team spirit and return home with a positive outcome.

Bangladesh beat Pakistan by a solitary goal in the SAFF Championship semifinal, but since the 2-0 loss to India in the final Cruciani's boys seemed yet to recover from the hangover.

Striker Shahjuddin Tipu and defender Faisal Ahmed will miss the trip as the Bangladesh team will travel with 18 players and three officials.

Manager Sayeed Hassan Kanan said on Friday that the match is very important for the national team.

"It would help our national team if we can qualify. After the 2003 SAFF Championship, we did not have a coach for two and a half years and hardly played an international match. But now we have a foreign coach for one and half months. If we reach the qualifying stage, we can continue the national camp," Kanan told.

"We need more time and training to prepare the national team which can't avail most of the times due to lack of fund. But the chance to play more international matches would not only give the players more exposure but also keep the players busy," the former national goalkeeper added.

The team will return home on December 27.

Meanwhile, Bhutan's match commissioner Mindu Dorji will submit his report about Diego Cruciani's actions after Wednesday's Bangladesh-Pakistan match to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The Argentine coach entered the ground and threatened Indian referee Rizwan Ul Haq after the match, but later apologised for his behaviour.

Although Cruciani complained about refereeing, sources said that the match commissioner was satisfied with the match official.

Cruciani could face suspension but not before the AFC office opens on January 2, 2006 after the yearly vacation.

SQUAD
Aminul Haque, Biplab Bhattachariya, Mohammad Sujan, Rajani Kanta Barman, Parvez Babu, Firoz Mahmud Titu, Nazrul Islam, Hassan Al Mamun, Arif Khan Joy (captain), Arman Aziz, Arman Mia, Matiur Munna, Abul Hossain, Alfaz Ahmed, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Ariful Kabir Farhad, Rokonuzzaman Kanchan and Zahid Hossain Emily.

Officials: Diego Cruciani (coach), Sayeed Hasan Kanan (manager) and Ariel Colman (trainer).