Nazrul quits from national team

Ace centre-back Nazrul Islam has decided not to play for Bangladesh on personal reasons.
The Abahani defender, who led Bangladesh in the Nehru Cup in India in August this year, has officially told the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) about his non-availability for the national team.
Nazrul submitted his letter to BFF's acting general secretary Manzoor Hossain Malu last night.
"Yes, I have decided not to continue with the national side. This is absolutely personal," Nazrul told The Daily Star over phone.
Nazrul was at peak form during the country's inaugural professional football league and held a tight defence for Abahani who lifted the B. League title. He, however, was replaced by Hassan Al Mamun as captain for the 2010 World Cup pre-qualifiers home-leg match against Tajikistan.
Sources, however, said that Nazrul quit for a hitch with Bangladesh's Indian coach Syed Nayeemuddin, who hasn't talked with the veteran footballer since their return from the Nehru Cup in India.
Nazrul and the coach both denied any such incidents.
It was learned that Nayeem was not in talking terms with his captain following Nazrul's comments to the media that the coach gave the players hard time at trainings.
Nazrul had wanted to quit earlier but the BFF officials had pursued him to stay. Things did not improve even after Bangladesh's superb performance in a 1-1 draw against Tajikistan in Dhaka earlier this month, leading Nazrul to finally step out.
Nazrul's absence could be a big blow as the squad hardly has a defender of his quality, especially i8n absence of injured Sujan.
Meanwhile, only 16 footballers out of 30 attended a light training session yesterday as the national football camp resumed at BKSP after the Eid vacation.
The camp was scheduled to restart on October 15 but the booters got an extra day's leave as the Eidul Fitr was observed on Sunday.
Bangladesh are preparing for their away match against Tajikistan, on October 28 in Dushanbe.
Nayeemuddin, who helped Bangladesh put an end to their losing streak against Tajikistan, felt that the boys are confident after the draw at home.
Bangladesh's previous meetings against the former Soviet state resulted in 0-2, 0-2 and 6-1 defeats.
"The draw did a great deal to boost their morale. Now we want to have as much match practice as possible because we have very little time in hand," Nayeemuddin told yesterday from BKSP over phone.
"We have trained for quite some time and now need to play games."
However, the BFF would not be able to stage any matches in this short period.
"I know this and we have to use our own resources," said the former India coach and international.
He is expected to use the players for game practice once the weather clears.
"We expected the Tajiks to play a game of better standard. But they have proved a rather ordinary side. It's not impossible to get a good result against them against if the players stick to the instructions. Whatever, we will fight like we did in Dhaka," Nayeem added.
Bangladesh will need to beat Tajikistan or draw at least 2-2 to enter the Asian qualifying rounds for the South Africa World Cup.