New-look booters off to India

A new-look Bangladesh national football team will fly to India today to take on the hosts in a FIFA friendly scheduled for March 5 at the Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa. The friendly will be a re-match of their SAFF Championship match on September 3, 2013 where Bangladesh were held to a 1-1 draw. Bangladesh took the lead through Atiqur Rahman Meshu in the 82nd minute, only to be cancelled by Sunil Chhetri's 95th minute free-kick.
The 21-member Bangladesh squad, which was announced at a press conference at BFF House yesterday features 10 members from the Sheikh Jamal side, most of whom will likely feature in the starting eleven.
The squad that has been announced will be a new-look one compared to the one that played in the SAFF Championship as head coach Lodewijk de Kruif placed importance on bringing fresh blood to the side, overlooking some of the old horses.
De Kruif has brought back goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel, who missed the SAFF Championship due to an eleventh-hour injury, and Sheikh Jamal goalie Mazharul Islam. Veteran goalie Biplob Bhattacharjee is also in the side, but his role will likely be more focused on coaching the young goalies.
The coach omitted seven names from the 28-member preliminary squad which was declared last Monday, with notable omissions being wingers Zahid Hossain and Mobarak Hossain due to injury.
Even though this is a relatively young side compared to SAFF squad, only three names -- midfielders Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Rubel Mia and defender Didarul Haque -- are fresh faces in the 21-member final squad.
“Mamunul Islam is the captain and Nasiruddin Chowdhury is his deputy. We will employ the 4-3-3 system which means we will need good wingers. Zahid Hossain and Mobarak Hossain are not available, but we have replacements in the wings in Mithun Chowdhury, Toklish Ahmed and young Rubel Mia,” said De Kruif about his options.
The team will fly tomorrow at 1:10pm by a Jet Airways flight, which has become the official carrier of the Bangladesh team for this tour.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Shahidul Alam Sohel, Mazharul Islam, Biplob Bhattacharjee
Defenders: Rayhan Hasan, Mohammad Linkon, Topu Barman, Nasiruddin Chowdhury, Yeasin Khan, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Yeamin Ahmed Munna, Didarul Haque
Midfieldrs: Mamunul Islam (C), Sohel Rana, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Rubel Mia, Towhidul Alam, Jamal Bhuiyan.
Strikers: Zahid Hasan Emily, Toklis Ahmed, Mithun Chowdhury, Aminur Rahman Sajib