Following their failure to record a single win in three friendly matches so far, AFFSC defending champions Malaysia will be desperate to do so when they play Bangladesh in Bukit Jalil today.
The Malayan Tigers have no injuries to report as coach Datuk K.Rajagopal will be looking to put an end to his experiments and field the strongest eleven – in the bid to end their winless streak. With goals hard to come by in recent games (Malaysia only scored once in the last three games), Rajagopal may however opt to give young Hazwan Bakri a chance to show what he has to offer. Harimau Muda starlet Wan Zack Wan Haikal is also likely to start after first choice winger Azamuddin Akil was surprisingly dropped last week. Safee Sali will again lead the line upfront and Amar Rohidan can be expected to partner Safiq Rahim in the middle of the park.
Not much is known about the visiting Bangladesh side, which lost 5-0 to Thailand only three days ago. Nicknamed Bengal Tigers, the South Asian nation are officially ranked 171 in the world. The last time they won a game was over a year ago – the team beat Lebanon 2-0 in World Cup qualifying match in Dhaka. Head coach Saiful Bari Titu has a fully fit squad to choose from, including captain Mohd Sujan.
The two teams have locked horns six times with Bangladesh winning only once – a 2-1 victory way back in 1982. This will be their first meeting in 15 years, after Malaysia came out tops in a 1998 World Cup qualifier tie.
The match is scheduled for an 8.45pm kick-off.
;
Follow Prem Kumar on ;