National team practice starts from today with 30 players
Head coach of Bangladesh national football team announced 30-member squad on Saturday when their practice sessions for the upcoming SAFF Football Championship will get underway from today.
Head coach Javier Fernandez Cabrera, who earlier made a 35-member preliminary list for the SAFF tournament made the first shortlist of 30-man when the 23-member final quad will be announced before to start for Cambodia on June 10.
Bangladesh will play the preparation match in Cambodia on June 15 and just on next day they will fly for India to play SAFF tournament scheduled to take place from June 23.
However, in the 30-man of Cabrera’s team, Yasin Arafat of Bashundhara Kings, Hemento Vincent of Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra, Abu Shahed of Sheikh Jamal, Murad Ahmed of Mohammedan and Mehdi Hassan Roya of Abahani Limited (Dhaka) were not considered from 35 players of the preliminary squad.
Meanwhile, Cabrera will also miss two vital performers in the SAFF when Saad Uddin and Matin Meah have already out of work due to injury, as they did not have call in the 35-member preliminary squad.
However, about keeping out the defender Yasin Arafat, who had a credit of scoring a goal against India in the previous edition of SAFF to collect a valuable point, Hassan Al Mamun, deputy of Cabrera, said, “Despite he (Yasin Arafat) has a good profile, but considering the recent performances, head coach get better alternative for the left-back position.”
Hassan Al Mamun also thinks that there is a huge difference between his (Yasin Arafat’s) performances this season comparing to his previous league.
Cabrera choose Morsalin of Bashundhara Kings and Sajjad Hossain of Mohammedan Sporting Club to replace Saad Uddin and Matin Meah, who ruled out for injuries.
All the 30-players have to report to the national team’s manager Amer Khan today at the BFF House.
The practice session will continue up to June 10 before to start for Cambodia to play the preparation match after having five days practice on June 15, the team will go India direct from Cambodia.
Meanwhile, it would be something challenging for Bangladesh team to make room in the last four when since 2009, they could not play in play knockout phase, as this time the SAFF will be organized with eight teams with including two guest teams from outside South Asia when Lebanon and Kuwait will play in the competition.
Bangladesh was drawn in the Group B along with the strongest side of this edition, Lebanon, former SAFF champions Maldives and Bhutan.
Bangladesh squad- Anisur Rahman (Zico), Mitul Marma, Shahidul Alam Sohel, Mehdi Hassan Srabon (Goalkeepers), Kazi Tarek Rayhan Rimon Hossain, Bisawnath Ghosh, Tutul Hossian Badsha, Tapu Barman, Isa Faisal, Maehdy Hassan Mithu, Rahmat Meah and Alaamgir Molla (defenders).
Mashuk Meah Jony, Sohel Rana, Mojibur Rahman Jony, Sohel Rana, Shahrear Emon, Robiul Hassan, Jamal bhuiyan, Mohammed Ridoy, Sajjad Hossain and Sheikh Morsalin (midfielders).
Rakib Hossain, Sumon Reza, Faisal Ahmed, Eleta Kingsley, Mohammed Ibrahim, Rafiqul Islam and Aminur Rahman Sajib (forwards).
