Captain Jamal Bhuiyan expressed his willingness to include himself in the starting lineup against India in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers if he were the head coach. Jamal shared this during a media interaction after meeting with team manager Amer Khan, with 14 players present at the residential camp ahead of the upcoming match against India on November 18 at the National Stadium.
The current absence of Spanish coach Javier Cabrera, who is in Spain due to the birth of his child, means that the players will kick off training under the assistant coaches from Friday. Cabrera is anticipated to return to the camp on November 3, coinciding with the arrival of Bashundhara Kings players post their AFC Challenge League campaign in Kuwait.
When asked about his potential starting prospects against India, Jamal remarked, “If I were the coach, I would prefer not to be on the bench. However, the final decision on playing in the starting lineup rests with the coach.” Jamal had come on as a substitute in the games against Hong Kong after being unused in the previous match against Singapore in June.
In reference to the team’s upcoming fixtures, Jamal mentioned, “Today marks the start of the camp, and the complete squad has yet to assemble. I anticipate Hamza and Shamit, among others, to join us in the coming days. The match against India holds significance due to the historical rivalry between Bangladesh and India. We aim to secure a victory as India is visiting Bangladesh after a considerable period.”
Manager Amer Khan disclosed that Hamza Choudhury and Shamit Shome will be accessible for the international friendly against Nepal on November 13. Hamza is scheduled to arrive on November 10, while Shamit’s availability post his match on November 8 in Canada will be confirmed.
Amer clarified the rationale behind commencing the camp early, stating, “The decision to initiate early preparations was made by the federation considering the players’ current inactive status, which may lead to complacency. The Bashundhara Kings’ players are projected to join on November 3, aligning with the return of the head coach.”
The players present at the camp include Shakil Hossain, Quazem Kirmane, Mitul, Ibrahim, Al Amin, Sheikh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuiyan, Sujan Hossain, Rahmat Mia, Shakil Ahad Topu, Abdullah Omar, Tareq Raihan Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed, and Arman Faisal Akash.