Bangladesh hockey team will go through a tough test against the Indian ‘A’ team that arrives in Dhaka today to play three practice matches on August 6, 7 and 8 at BKSP.
Bangladesh hockey team is currently based at BKSP in a residential camp for the Asian Games scheduled to be held in Incehon, Korea in September this year. This will be the first time in the history that an Indian hockey team will arrive in Bangladesh as per the invitation of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation and the federation is eager to continue the relation.
Khwaja Rahmtaullah, the general secretary of the BHF expressed the desire. “We want to build up a strong relation with India and Pakistan for the sake of the development of our hockey. All the three countries have morally agreed to do so. In the past we had some training facilities for our coaches in Patiala. For unknown reasons it had been discontinued and we will take the initiatives to revive the process,” said Rahmatullah.
The Indian A team consists of a mixture of youth and experience as the team will be led by midfielder Vikramkanth who has played 70 international matches for India. The team also includes Yuvraj Walmiki with 44 international caps, Kushallappa Uthappa with 54 international caps and Nithin Thimmiah who has played 36 matches wearing the Indian jersey. Tushar Khadker, a familiar name in Bangladesh’s hockey arena, is the coach of the visiting team. Only two players in the visiting squad are yet to wear an Indian jersey and apart from them, all the other players have played for India in international fixtures.
INDIA A TEAM SQUAD
Harjot Singh, (Gk), Sushant Tirkey (Gk),Talwinder Singh, Gurjinder Singh, Yuvraj Walmiki, Lalit Upadhay, Kushlalppa Uthappa, Satbir Singh, Nithin Thimmiah, Harjeet Singh, Vikash Vishnu Pillay, Harbir Singh Sandhu, Devinder Sunil, Jasjit Singh Kular, Vickram Kanth (Captain), Yusuf Affan. Tushar Khandokar (Coach), Harendra Singh(Manager).
