Mamunul in 33-member squad

Bangladesh coach Tom Saintfiet yesterday included three new faces as he announced a 33-member preliminary squad for the national team's AFC Asian Cup Play-off Qualifiers against Bhutan. Winger Mohammad Ibrahim and strikers Saad Uddin and Sarwar Zaman Nipu were the new faces in the team which also contained nine old guns, including former captain Mamunul Islam.

Saintfiet dropped three players -- striking pair Nabib Newaj Jibon and Mehdi Hasan Tapu and defender Ariful Islam -- from his 23-member final squad which played out a goalless draw against Bhutan in Dhaka on September 6. Bangladesh will take on Bhutan on October 10 in Thimphu, while the camp will start from Saturday.

Saad and Nipu, the striking pair of the under-16 national team were surprisingly called up to the national fold for the first time, although Saad and Nipu are bench players for Abahani and Sheikh Jamal respectively, while Ibrahim has been playing regularly for Chittagong Abahani.

The 43-year-old coach also called-up veteran midfielders Mamunul, Enamul Haque, Sohel Rana, Sohel Mia and Masuk Mia Zoni, defenders Yeasin Khan and Yeamin Munna, goalkeepers Maksudur Rahman Mustak and Mohammad Nehal and veteran striker Zahid Hasan Emily.

“I am now fully focused on our next professional football league match against BJMC because a win will take us close to the league leaders. However, I am happy that I have been called up again, but I will take a decision on whether to join the national camp after the match against BJMC,” said Chittagong Abahani captain Mamunul Islam.