Also read: Bangladesh U-16 girls face North Korea in opener
Bangladesh girls qualified for the tournament for the first time in history after exhibiting brilliant display in the qualifiers last year in September in Dhaka where they stunned some of the big teams in Asia, winning all their five matches. They are also the only team from south Asia to play in the event where Asia’s top eight teams will compete to earn qualification in the World Cup. The Bangladesh girls have been placed in a tough group along with former champion North Korea, Japan and Australia. They will kick off their campaign a day after the inaugural match, against favourite North Korea at Chonburi Stadium on Monday before facing Japan and Australia at IPE Stadium on September 14 and 17 respectively.
Also read: The girls are special
Only five players from Bangladesh’s 23-member squad in the AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers in Dhaka were not included in the current 20-member squad. They are Nargis, Taslima, Josna, Sultana and Ruksana. Rumki and Razia Khatun are the only additions from the qualifiers’ squad.Bangladesh squadMahmuda Akhter, Rumki, Nazma, Masura Parvin, Akhi Khatun, Sheuli Azim, Anai Mogini, Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Shamsunnahar, Misrat Jahan Mousumi, Maria Manda, Tohura Khatun, Sanjida Akhter, Marzia Akhter, Monika Chakma, Israt Jahan Ratna, Razia Khatun, Srimoti Krishna Rani Sarkar, Anuching Mogini and Sirat Jahan Shopna
