Squad finalized for Afghanistan clash

Bangladesh head coach Jamie Day has finalized the 23-man squad ahead of their opening second-round World Cup and Asian Cup joint qualification match against Afghanistan on September 10 as the team are all set to leave here for Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe Sunday.

The national team earlier began their first phase of preparation camp in Dhaka on August 23 with 26 players from the preliminary squad from which, three players – goalkeeper Mazharul Islam Hemel, defenders Nurul Naim Faisal and Manjurur Rahman Manik – couldn’t make it to the travelling squad.

“Everyone has worked extremely hard over the last seven days and the players not making the squad will be disappointed but I have selected a squad that I think is best suited to get a positive result in Tajikistan against Afghanistan,” explained Day.

After the AFC Cup campaign, seven national players of Abahani Limited landed in Dhaka Friday night after around 30 hours of journey from North Korea and will have little time to rest before packing the bags again for Tajikistan.

Bangladesh coach Jamie Day wants to get the best from the combination of both the performance of his charges and tactics to bag a positive result against Afghanistan in their 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifier 2nd-round tie in Tajikistan.https://t.co/ftrIRTt5Ja#BFF

— Dhaka Tribune Sports (@Sport_DT) August 30, 2019

Day said, “I guess they are tired and until we see them I won’t know the full condition. None of them have reported an injury from the game which is good.”

The national team trained in the last couple of days at the turf of Kamalapur Stadium due to the two-day long National Summer Athletics at Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka.

The team played a practice match against the national U-19 side Saturday, winning 3-1 with Mohammad Ibrahim, Manik and Sushanta Tripura scoring one each for the victorious side.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Ashraful Islam Rana, Shahidul Alam Sohel and Anisur Rahman Zico

Defenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Tutul Hossain Badshah, Sushanta Tripura, Rahmat Mia, Yeasin Khan, Riyadul Hasan and Yeasin Arafat

Midfielders: Masuk Mia Jony, Jamal Bhuiyan, Mamunul Islam, Sohel Rana, Robiul Hasan, Biplu Ahmed, Arifur Rahman, Mohammad Ibrahim and Jewel Rana

Forwards: Nabib Newaj Jibon, Mahbubur Rahman Sufil, Matin Mia and Saad Uddin