The spectators, already sparse in number, were disappointed as both Pakistan and Aram Bagh failed to make inroads in the first half of the match. [break]
Bangladesh got an opportunity to take the initiative in the match in the sixth minute but Khalid Saifulla´s header off a Mohammad Soyd Hossain Surat corner was comfortably gathered by the Pakistani custodian Jaffar Khan at head height.
Pakistan´s reply came in the seventh minute when skipper Essa Khan tried his luck at the post but was denied by the Bangla goalkeeper Mitul. Pakistan again threatened to score in the 27th minute when Abdul Aziz´s corner was powerfully headed by Essa Khan, who got a second chance to put in another header on rebound but could not make it count.
Pakistan´s players looked out of sorts as they hit as many as three erratic shots far away from the opposition´s net. Essa Khan produced a powerful strike in the 41st minute from 40 yards but the Bangla keeper was up to the challenge and made a diving save on the right.
Real action began only in the 57th minute when SM Emrul Hasan of Aram Bagh tried a close range shot from the right inside the box but was again denied by the Bangla goalie.
Aram Bagh managed to break through in the 77th minute as SM Emrul Hasan´s corner from the left was headed home by Maloy Barman. The keeper was stranded on the near post while the ball whistled away on the far post.The lead did not last long though as Essa Khan struck from the edge of the box to find the net four minutes later. Pakistan had a final shot at victory in the final moments but Abdul Aziz´s corner could not find a Pakistani and was cleared by a Bangladeshi defender.
"The draw is a very sad one for the team. We hope to improve in the next match," Pakistani coach George Kottan said after the match. He also said that only 3-4 players of the team merited a place in the Pakistani first team. Bangladeshi coach Quazi Neamula Majid on the other hand looked satisfied with the result that has opened up Group B.
The losing side in the match between Nepal (Red) and Pakistan on Wednesday will be out of the tournament while a draw will see a three-way tie that will bring goals scored into the equation with different sets of semifinalists possible depending upon the number of goals scored in the match.
JW Team of Thailand takes on Sri Lanka in the last match of Group A on Monday that will decide the fate of Nepal (Blue).
