Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Tuesday named 24 players, including five new faces, to form a team to play in the Tri-Nation Football Tournament in Nepal.
The tournament, also involving host Nepal and Kyrgyzstan, will be held in Kathmandu from March 23-29.
National captain Jamal Bhuiyan, now playing in the Indian I-League for Kolkata Mohammedan SC, has also been included in the squad.
Five new faces of the squad are: defender Rimon Hossain (Kings), defender Mohammad Emon and Mehdi Hasan, forward Mehdi Hasan Royal (Muktijoddha) and Habibur Rahman Shohag (Mohammedan).
Seven players were picked from league leader Bashundhara Kings, four from Dhaka Abahani Ltd, three each from Saif SC and Muktijoddha SKC, two each from Sheikh Russel and Chittagong Abahani and one each from Mohammedan SC and Uttar Baridhara, apart from captain Jamal Bhuiyan.
Besides, seven more footballers of national U-23 team were also included in the squad as stand-by players.
They are – Abu Sayed, M Rahimuddin, Imran Hasan Rimon and Faisal Ahmed Fahim (Saif SC), Mitul Larma (Uttar Barudhara), Atiquzzaman (Mohammedan SC) and Mohammad Jewel (Police FC).
Nine players, who were included in the 23-member Bangladesh squad to play the FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Qatar in Doha on December 4, were excluded from the Nepal-bound team.
They are – Topu Barman, Mohammad Ibrahim, Towhidul Alam Sabuj, Robiul Hasan, Atiqur Rahman Fahad, Yeasin Khan, SM Bablu, Pappu Hossain and Nabib Newas Jibon.
24-member Bangladesh squad
Goal keepers: Ashraful Islam Rana, Shahidul Alam Sohel and Anisur Rahman Zico
Defenders: Bishwanath Ghosh, Rimon Hosssin, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Rahmat Miya, Yeasin Arafat, Riyadul Hasan, Mohammad Emon, Mehdi Hasan and Habibur Rahman Shohag
Midfield: Manik Mollah, Jamal Bhuiyan, Masuk Mia Jonny, Rakib Hossain, Biplu Ahmed, Saaduddin and Sohel Rana
Forward: Motin Mia, Mohammad Abdullah, Sumon Reza, Mehdi Hasan and Mahbubur Rahman Sufil.
