Saturday, 9th May 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 15th March 2026, 9:39 AM
Bangladesh’s national football team is gearing up for a crucial phase as they prepare to face Singapore in their final match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifying stage on 31 March. Ahead of this, they will play a friendly against Vietnam on 26 March under the guidance of head coach Javier Cabrera. To ready the squad for these two significant matches, the Bangladesh Football Federation has announced a 28-man training squad starting tomorrow.
Among the notable returns is defender Bishwanath Ghosh, who has been out for an extended period due to injury. Ghosh, currently playing for Bashundhara Kings, last represented the national team on 5 September 2024 against Bhutan. His inclusion marks a significant boost to Bangladesh’s defensive options ahead of the upcoming matches.
The squad also features a new face, goalkeeper Ishak Akand from Brothers Club, while England-based midfielder Kuba Mitchell has been omitted. Mitchell made his national team debut last November against Nepal but will not participate in this training phase.
Midfielder Hamza Chowdhury is also absent from the initial training camp. The federation confirmed that Chowdhury will join the team in Vietnam after the squad completes the domestic phase of the camp in Dhaka from 16 to 19 March. The team will depart for Vietnam on 20 March.
Although Bangladesh has already missed the opportunity to qualify for the main tournament of the AFC Asian Cup, the qualifying phase still holds importance for ranking and experience. So far, Bangladesh has played five qualifying matches, winning only once at home against India last November. The other four matches resulted in two losses and two draws, giving the team a total of five points.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Ishak Akand |
| Defenders | Tarik Kazi, Rahmat Mia, Shakil Ahad, Abdullah Omar, Shakil Hossain, Zayan Ahmed, Bishwanath Ghosh, Sad Uddin, Monzurur Rahman, Isa Faisal |
| Midfielders | Kazem Shah, Sheikh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuiya, Sohel Rana, Md. Sohel Rana, Mohammad Hriday, Shomit Som |
Coach Cabrera emphasised the importance of the training period, stating, “Every session is vital for team cohesion and strategy refinement. Our focus is on readiness and tactical discipline for both Vietnam and Singapore matches.”
The upcoming camp provides a blend of experience and emerging talent, allowing Bangladesh to build depth and strengthen team dynamics ahead of competitive fixtures. Bishwanath Ghosh’s return, along with new goalkeeper options, is expected to bolster defensive resilience, while the midfield and attacking units aim to sharpen their coordination and attacking efficiency.
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