Booters for Asia Cup named

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday announced a 20-member U-23 national team, for next month's Asian Games, including seven defenders, six midfielders, five forwards and two goalkeepers.

Head coach Lodewijk de Kruif kept national team's skipper Mamunul Islam, midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan and defender Atiqur Rahman Meshu as the three senior players eligible for the side. 

Veteran strikers Zahid Hasan Emily and Mithun Chowdhury were earlier withdrawn from the 30-member camp due to injuries while seven more players were omitted from the final squad. The ones to be left out in the final reckoning are: Shahedul Alam Shahed, Osman Gani, Rubel Mia, Nahidul Islam, Emon Babu, Abdul Malek, Mezbah Uddin and Mohammad Sujon.

Six players -- Aminur Rahman Shajib, Rasel Mahmud Liton, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Yousuf Sifat, Atiqur Rahman Farhad and Jewel Rana  -- have been called up for national duties for the first time.

The U-23 national team has been in a training camp at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP) in Savar for the last 12 days and have already played two practice matches against local teams. The national U-23 team are scheduled to play two friendly matches at home against Nepal national team on August 25 and 28. The team is expected to leave for Incheon, Korea on September 12 for the Asian Games football event which will begin on September 16.

SQUAD

Shahidul Alam Sohel (GK), Rasel Mahmud Liton (GK); Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Raihan Hasan, Tapu Barman, Tutul Hossain Badsha, Yeamin Munna, Kesto Kumar, Yeasin Khan; Atiqur Rahman Farhad, Sohel Rana, Mamunul Islam, Omar Faruque Babu, Jamal Bhuiyan, Yousuf Sifat; Wahed Ahmed, Toklish Ahmed, Hemanta Vincent Biswash, Jewel Rana, Aminur Rahman Shajib.