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LAHORE: Pakistan on Sunday hosted its first major international sporting event since gunmen attacked the Sri Lankan cricket team two years ago, but were put out of the 2014 football World Cup by visitors Bangladesh.
Bangladesh, leading 3-0 from the first leg of the Asian zone first qualifying round tie in Dhaka, held Pakistan to a goalless draw in the second leg in Lahore for a comfortable aggregate win.
The visitors were forced to play in Pakistan after their request to relocate the match was turned down by FIFA.
The attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, in the same city in March 2009, left eight people dead and seven wounded.
“We came here confident that we will reach the second round and although Pakistan proved tough we managed to keep them at bay,” said Bangladesh skipper Biplob Bhattacharajee, whose side maintained a tight defence, aided by poor Pakistani finishing.
Bangladesh will now play Lebanon in the two-legged second round on July 23 and 28. Eight round one winners join 22 higher ranked teams – including China, Thailand and Iran – in the next stage of the road to the 2014 finals, which will be hosted by Brazil.
