SAFF Championship: Five nations with most clean-sheets

These nations have proved to be defensive fortresses for their opponents to score against.

We all know what some of the highest scorelines were in the SAFF Championship. Be it Sunil Chhetri or Ali Ashfaq, the goalscorers and attackers are always among the headlines. But, who were some of the lesser-known defensive stalwarts of these sides?

Let us now take a look at the five nations with the most clean sheets in the SAFF Championship: 

5. Pakistan - 13

The founding member of the SAARC Gold Cup's best run of three clean sheets came in 2005. Captain and goal custodian Jaffar Khan led them from the back for this campaign of theirs. The last-ever clean sheet in this competition came in 2018 and was a solitary one. Pak Shaheen, however, did so in style, by slamming Bhutan 3-0.

Earlier, in 2009, the Pakistani Falcons had inflicted a heavier defeat by routing them 7-0 as Muhammad Esa and Arif Mehmood ran the riot. Additionally, India might be their arch rivals but their favourite opponents are Bangladesh, against whom they've kept three clean-sheets.  

4. Sri Lanka - 14

From one of the first winners of the SAARC Gold Cup to not featuring in the 2023 SAFF Championship - Sri Lanka’s fall from grace has been staggering. Incidentally, the Golden Army’s solitary clean sheet in the 1995 edition came in the all-important final against defending champions India.

Credit must go to all the players as they played out this final amidst a tropical tempest. Substitute Sarath Wellage stepped up and converted a diving header from Perera who embarked down the left and swivelled in a low cross. The Golden Army has since managed to get two clean sheets (2008, 2009) and their turnover hasn’t been anything special. Sri Lanka have fared exceptionally well against Pakistan and Bhutan however, with three clean-sheets against each nation.

3. Bangladesh - 15

The Bengal Tigers rose to the occasion only once in 2003 despite being a founding member. Bangladesh flourished in the same edition and in the one after that (2005), they recorded their tournament high of three clean-sheets. 

Biplob Bhattacharjee played understudy to the fabled Aminul Haque, featuring in their 3-0 win against Bhutan. Shot-stopper Haque won them the trophy with his penalty heroics against a strong Maldives side in the 2003 finals. Bangladesh also seem to enjoy a certain superiority over Pakistan and Bhutan with six and five clean sheets recorded against them, respectively. In fact, their first-ever clean sheet against Pakistan was also accompanied by a four-goal drubbing. 

2. Maldives - 18

With the exception of their first venture in 1997 and in 2015, the Red Snappers have maintained at least one clean sheet in all editions. Maldives’ best-ever clean-sheet tally came in the 2008 SAFF Championship. The two-time winners' jaw-dropping performance in 2018 saw them score 18 goals in the group stage. Prime Ali Ashfaq scored 10 of those 18, with six against Sri Lanka and four more against Bhutan.

Imran Mohamed was responsible for keeping the Maldives goal scot-free in 2008 as well as resolute left-back captain Assad. While India might be their closest rival, Maldives’ favourite opponents are Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The demolition of the Golden Army in 2018 is testimony to this dominance and was part of six clean sheets. The Red Snappers have held the Pakistani Falcons back on four occasions in comparison.

1. India - 29

The Blue Tigers are eight time-winners and their 29 clean sheets translates to the fact that they’ve maintained an average of two in each of the 14 editions. India’s best tally of three clean-sheets came in five editions - 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011, and 2021.

From Prasanta Dora donning the gloves in 1999, to Arindam Bhattacharya being the primary shot-stopper in 2009, India witnessed brilliance. Of course, it was all succeeded by the inaugural Indian in a UEFA Europa League, and none other than Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. He helped them to the trophy in 2011, 2015, and 2021 and is part of the current team in the 2023 SAFF Championship. India also seem to have done exceptionally well against Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, in this aspect. While the Blue Tigers have kept a clean sheet against the Northern nation on six occasions, it has been five for the others.