NEW DELHI: Tournament favourites, Maldives have got off to a 'not so good' start to their SAFF Championship campaign as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Pakistan at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi in a group B match.

Maldives are placed second in the group standings, tied on points with Pakistan, and need a victory against Bangladesh to confirm their place in the final four.

Maldives coach Istvan Urbanyi made one change to the starting line-up from the last match as Ismail Mohamed was brought in. Pakistan started with Jadeed Khan Pathan as the lone striker in a 4-5-1 formation.

The two teams took a while before they settled into the match. The first chance fell to Maldives when Ali Ashfaq's glancing header missed the far post by not much from a free-kick in the eighth minute.

Pakistan were physical in their approach and the tackle by Atif Bashir on Asad Gani was the best example of the same.

At the other end, Ismail Mohamed's cross from the left saw Ahmed Thariq's effort being parried away by goalkeeper Jafar Khan.

In the second half too, the pace of the game was slow and there were several mispasses in the middle of the park which never really allowed the game to flow.