Injured Sheikh Russel KC striker Jahid Hasan Ameli missed the cut while star winger Zahid Hossain and defender Nasir Uddin Chowdhury returned to the national set-up as the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday announced the final 20-man squad for the upcoming Saff Suzuki Cup. The 11th edition of the regional competition kicks off in Kerala, India this Wednesday.
Apart from Zahid and Nasir, Mohammedan duo Ashraful Hoq Rana and Jewel Rana and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi midfielder Sohel Rana also returned to the national fold after missing the previous squad that toured Kyrgyzstan recently for a 2018 Fifa World Cup second-round qualifier.
Maruful Haque, who replaced previous Italian head coach Fabio Lopez, had brought quite a few changes in the preliminary 29-member squad. Veteran forward Ameli was included initially but later missed out due to a knee injury.
On the other hand, Mazharul Hemel, Rezaul Karim, Faysal Mahmud, Masuk Miah Jony, Abdul Baten Komol and Aminur Rahman Sajib were left out from Maruf’s final Saff squad.
In the absence of prolific striker Ameli, Shakhawat Hossain Rony, goalscoring hero of the Fifa international friendly against Nepal last Thursday, and Nabib Newaj Jibon are Maruf’s only options for the forward position.
Midfield enforcer Jamal Bhuiyan is still recuperating from injury and is unlikely to feature in Bangladesh’s opener against holders Afghanistan this Thursday but is expected to return against Bhutan in the next match. Bangladesh will round off their Group B campaign against Maldives.
The Bengal Tigers will leave here for Kerala tomorrow.
