'Experienced' Sabina on a roll

Bangladesh captain Sabina Khatun said she felt the experience she gained through playing in the national team for over 12 years helped her score a hattrick against Pakistan in a SAFF Women's Championship fixture in Kathmandu on Saturday, which helped the side book a berth in the semifinals.

The veteran forward hit three goals as Bangladesh scored six past Pakistan, who are playing in this competition after eight years. This was Sabina's second hattrick in the SAFF Women's Championship, the first coming six years ago against Afghanistan.

Sabina, who has also played club football in Bangladesh, Maldives and India, felt her experience of playing at the highest level helped her achieve the feat.

"It's definitely a great honour for me," Sabina said at the post-match press conference. "I've always said experience matters a great deal. I believe my experience helped me a lot on the pitch. I tried to give my best and it worked."

On the back of a brace in Bangladesh's 3-0 opening-game win over Maldives, skipper Sabina turned on the style and scored a hattrrick after Monika Chakma had broken the deadlock in the third minute and Sirat Jahan Swapna extended the advantage in the 28th minute.

The victory put Bangladesh in second position, behind Group A leaders India, who beat Maldives 9-0 in the day's second match to stay on top by virtue of goal difference.

Bangladesh will square off against five-time champions India on Tuesday, a match that will decide the final standings in the group and the semifinal opponents.

Sabina believes she can score against India too if things continue as they are. "It will definitely be a tough match against India. Our target is to play the way we are playing, according to the plan. If we can do that, goals will come automatically."

The Bashundhara Kings forward, who was taken off in the 72nd minute before substitute Rituporna Chakma completed the rout, felt that they could go a long way in this tournament.