Bangladesh will need the striking pair of Zahid Hasan Emily (R) and Enamul Haq to fire when they launch their SAFF Championship campaign against Bhutan at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today.Photo: STAR

A brief synopsis of each side taking part in the 6th SAFF Championship in Dhaka between 4th to 13th December, 2009 is provided below. Since none of the teams are traditional heavyweights or frequent visitors to Bangladesh, this is a guide to help identify each team's players and status from a global standpoint. It will highlights each team's full squad list, their FIFA rankings, past performance in the Championships, their aspirations for this years tournament and their best player.
GROUP A
Team: Maldives
FIFA Ranking: 148
Squad: Mohamed Sifan, Abdul Ghani, Umair Mohamed, Ibrahim Soba, Jameel Mohamed, Mossa Ahmed Eiraz, Hussain Mohamed, Sinan Mohamed, Fazeel Ibrahim, Ashfaq Ali, Ali Ashadh, Gasim Shamweel, Abdul Ghani Akram, Naseer Mukthar, Umar Ali, Rasheed Ahmed, Ahmed Thoriq, Arif Mohamed, Imran Mohamed, Ahmed Aghfan.
Coach: Urbanyi Istvan Bela
Last tournament: Champions
Star turn: Ashfaq Ali
Aspiration:
Maldives are a strong compact side and have earned the tag as one of the upstarts from the region. They will look to dominate from the off and go all the way
Team: India
FIFA Ranking: 135
Squad:
Nirmal Chetri, Rowilson Rodregues, Ravinder Singh, Baideep Singh, Jagpreet Singh, Thakchom Naoba Singh, Balwant Singh, Sushil Kumar Singh, Joaquim Santan Abranches, Je Je Lalpeklua, Khangembam Jibon Singh, Dharmeraj Ravanan, Manish Mathani, Jagtar Singh, Robert Lalthianmuena, Denzil Michael Franco, Subodh Kumar, Laxmikant Kattimani, Jewel Raja Shaikh and Subhash Singh Singam.
Coach: Shukvindar Singh
Last tournament: Runners-up
Star turn: Sushil Kumar Singh
Aspiration: Despite fielding a largely second string side, the Indians will pose stiff opposition for any side. Expect them to ruffle a few feathers but they perhaps lack the experience to go all the way.
Team: Afghanistan
FIFA Ranking: 189
Squad: Faisal, Mohammad Salem, Zohib, Wahid, Djelauddin, Hafizullah, Hashmattullah, Moqaddar, Mustafa, Israfeel, Saboor, Zakria, Zomahn, Shamsuddin, Ali Ahmad, Masood, Khasraw, Taimoor, Hamid, Ali.
Coach: Mohammad Yosuf Kargar
Last tournament: Group Stage
Star turn: Israfil Kohistani
Aspiration: The war-riddled nation is expected to be one of the minnows of the event as they are fielding a team comprised mostly of youth players. However, the players know each other well and this could be an advantage.
Team: Nepal
FIFA Ranking: 173
Squad: Chetan Ghimire, Sandip Rai, Rakesh Shrestha, Jo Maku Rai, Nirajan Malla, Rabin Shreshia, Anjan K.O., Bijay Gorung, Bikash Malla, Biraj Maharian, Rohit Chand, Yogesh Shrestha, Nirajan Khadka, Raju Tamang, Ritesh Thapa, Chon Bahadur Thapa, Sagar Thapa, Santosh Shahukhala, Anil Gurung and Mulmi Maheswor.
Coach: Krishna Thapa.
Last tournament: Group Stage
Star turn: Rakesh Shrestha
Aspiration: Nepal are targeting a semifinal spot this time around, after a group stage exit in the last tournament. They will look to get a solid start in their opening match against Maldives.
GROUP BTeam: Bangladesh
FIFA Ranking: 165
Squad: Aminul Haq, Biplob Bhattacharya, Mazharul Islam Himel, Rajani Kanta Barman, Ariful Islam, Wali Faisal, Ibnul Siraji, Mamun Mia, Nasiruddin, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Mehdi Hasan Ujjal, Arman Aziz, Zahed Parves Chowdhury, Pranotosh Kumar, Shahedul Alam, Mamunul Islam, Abdul Baten Komol, Enamul Haq, Mithun Chowdhury and Zahid Hasan Emily.
Coach: Shahidur Rahman Shantoo.
Last tournament: Group stage
Star turn: Zahid Hasan Emily
Aspiration: Despite the acrimonious sacking of Brazilian coach Dido, Shahidur Rahman Shantoo's charges will look to use home advantage to win the whole tournament
Team: Sri Lanka

FIFA Ranking: 158
Squad: Mohamed Illadeen, Thilina Suranda, Bandara, Chathura Gunarathna, Asmeer, Channa, Sanjeeu, Ajith Kumara, Steinwall, Sembukutti Kankanange Lahiru Tharaka, Anurudda Bandara Warakagoda, Dumidu Wasanthaka, Hettiarachche, Rohana Dinesh Ruwanthilaka, Tharusha Rangana, Sanoj Sameera Perera, Sajaya Pradeep Kumara, Kasun Nadika, Mohamad Fasal, Sadhishkumar, Nipuna Dewinda Bandara, Chathcira Maduranga Weerasinghe, Kolitha Chathuranga Kumara, Rajitha Jayawilal, Thilanka Nalinda Kumara.
Coach: Sampath Perera.
Last tournament: Semifinal
Star turn: Kasum Jayasuriya
Aspiration: Sri Lanka are a solid side and although their track record over the last decade is not exceptional they are targeting a spot in the final in this edition of the tournament.
Team: Pakistan
FIFA Ranking:168
Squad: Jaffar Khan, Amir Gul, Sammar Ishaq, Haji Muhammad, Muhammad Essa, Nasrullah Khan, Safiullah Khan, Abdul Aziz, Jadeed Khan Pathan, Arif Mehmood, Mohammad Shahid, Zeshan Rehman, Adnan Farooq Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal, Atif Bashir Qureshi, Shabir Khan, Mahmood Ali, Orangzeb, Muddassar Saeed and Ris Ashraf.
Coach: George Adalbert Kottan.
Last tournament: Group Stage
Star turn: Adnan Ahmed
Aspiration: George Kottan knows Bangladesh and their football well. His insight will come in useful as the Pakistan side, with fresh faces from the expatriate community in the UK, look to make a name for them in the tournament.
Team: Bhutan
FIFA Ranking: 196
Squad: Passang Tshering, Pema, Nawang Dendup, Kinley Dorji, Sangay Khandu, Tandin Tshering, Karun Gurung, Kinley Wangchuk, Sonam Tenzin, Tenzin, Leki, Tshering Dendup, Nim Sangay, Gyeltshen, Chihimi Dorji, Dawa Gyeltshen, Kelzang Dorji, Chencho, Kinga Thinley.
Coach: Koji Gyotoku
Last tournament: Semifinal
Star turn: Prema
Aspiration: Bhutan are the lowest-ranked side in the piece, but they have been semifinalists in the last edition, only losing to India in stoppage time. They are not expected to be as strong this time around.