Bangladesh defender Saad Uddin is facing a year on the sidelines after suffering a serious Achilles injury during the second half of their final group-stage fixture against Sri Lanka in the Tecno SAFF Championship 2026 at the National Stadium in Dhaka on Wednesday.
Thomas Dooley’s side cruised to a 4-0 victory, but Saad could not join his teammates in celebrating after the final whistle. The full-back was stretchered off the pitch before being taken to hospital by ambulance. He was subsequently replaced by Rahmat Mia in the 81st minute.
Bangladesh head coach Dooley had said at the post-match press conference that the first-choice defender could miss the remainder of the tournament.
Midfielder and former captain Jamal Bhuiyan provided a more concerning update on Saad’s condition ahead of Thursday’s training session in Bashundhara, suggesting that the injury could keep him out of action for an extended period.
“I heard his Achilles tore off. So, it will take a minimum of one year for him to be out,” Jamal said.
Saad’s injury has also raised concerns over Bangladesh’s defensive options ahead of Saturday’s semi-final against Pakistan, with Jamal stressing the importance of having adequate cover across the squad.
“We need the whole squad. Saad is injured, so of course we need his backup. Hridoy played as a centre-back. So, we need the full squad,” he added.
