Biplab back, 3 new faces on de Kruif's list
Veteran goalkeeper Biplab Bhattacharjee has seemingly got a new lifeline as the Sheikh Russel custodian, along with three fresh faces, was included in a 32-man preliminary squad for the SAFF Championship chosen by national team's head coach Lodewijk de Kruif.
The Dutchman and his compatriot assistant coach Rene Koster handed over the list to Bangladesh Football Federation before their departure for Netherlands last night, having watched nine matches in the ongoing Grameenphone Super Cup.
"They have handed over a list of 32 including 21 players from the AFC Challenge Cup squad. The list also includes some of the players who were out of the squad due to injuries. There are a few new faces on it, and veteran keeper Biplab is a new inclusion," said BFF vice-president Tabith M Awal, who is a member of the National Teams Committee.
Biplab was out of the national squad since the 2011 SAFF Championship, where he was just a part of the squad, but never made it to the playing eleven.
Apart from Biplab, Mohammedan striker Wahed Ahmed, Sheikh Russel defenders Uttam Kumar Bonik and Nahidul Islam are the fresh faces.
Tabith also informed that a physio-cum-trainer, to be chosen by de Kruif, is expected to arrive on June 28 while the coaches return on July 1 to conduct the training camp from the same day.
"After 10 days of training in Bangladesh, the national squad will leave for Thailand on July 10 for a ten-day conditioning camp and will play a friendly match against the Thai national side on July 19 before returning home the next day," added Tabith.
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