The game will be held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Thursday.

Their England-born defender Zesh Rehman will join the team today.

"It is true that Bangladesh will enjoy the home advantage and they won the SAFF Championship semifinal against us, but I still believe that my team has the ability to win this match," said Pakistan's Bahraini coach Salman Ahmed Sharida during a practice session at the big bowl.

The two teams will meet again in the return match on December 26 in Karachi.