Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday announced a 23-man squad for the upcoming 2018 Fifa World Cup second round qualifier against Asian champions Australia, slated for September 3 in Perth.
Before the Australia clash, Bangladesh will take on Malaysia in a friendly in Kuala Lumpur this Saturday as part of their preparation. The training camp will begin tomorrow following today's final Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League encounter between Sheikh Jamal and Abahani.
Bangladesh's Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif has excluded trio Wahed Ahmed, Towhidul Alam Sabuj and Reasat Khaton and included veteran defender Atiqur Rahman Meshu. In their first two qualifiers at home, Bangladesh suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Kyrgyzstan before being held to a 1-1 draw by Tajikistan.
Along with 10 others players from Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, forward Toklis Ahmed and midfielder Monaem Khan Raju remained in the squad despite featuring rarely in the starting XI in the top-flight.
Bangladesh's opponents Australia, on the other hand, declared their squad last week. The Socceroos' squad comprises several players who are involved in the top-tier across Europe including goalkeeper Mat Ryan (Valencia), midfield general Mile Jedinak (Crystal Palace), forward Robbie Kruse (Bayer Leverkusen) and winger Mathew Leckie (Ingolstadt). Legendary striker Tim Cahill, who currently plies his trade in China, was also named in the squad.
Bangladesh squad
Shahidul Alam Sohel, Rasel Mahmud Liton, Ashraful Islam Rana; Rayhan Hasan, Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, Yeasin Khan, Yeamin Ahmed Munna, Mohammad Linkon, Topu Barman, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Nasirul Islam Nasir; Mamunul Islam, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Jamal Bhuiyan, Sohel Rana, Monaem Khan Raju; Zahid Hossain, Jahid Hasan Ameli, Toklis Ahmed, Enamul Haque, Abdul Baten.
Australia squad
Alex Cisak, Adam Federici, Mat Ryan; Aziz Behich, Jason Davidson, Tarek Elrich, Ryan McGowan, Matt Spiranovic, Alex Wilkinson, Bailey Wright; Jackson Irvine, Mile Jedinak, Massimo Luongo, Matt McKay, Mark Milligan, Aaron Mooy, Tom Rogic; Nathan Burns, Tim Cahill, Tomi Juric, Rob Kruse, Matt Leckie, Tommy Oar.
