Booters left for Qatar without injured striker Nabib Newaz

Bangladesh national football team left for Qatar this morning to play their away World Cup and Asian Cup Qualifying match on December 4 without striker Nabib Newaz as the forward has injury issues.

Nabib injured his right knee in the second of the two FIFA friendlies against Nepal on November 17. Even though the striker was included in the initial 27-member squad for the Qatar fixture, the 30-year-old was left behind at the last moment.

The striker mentioned that he will require four weeks to recover.

"I could not go with the team due to an injury in my right knee. I picked the injury in the second friendly against Nepal when I tried to head the ball and collided with their goalkeeper. He [Nepal goalkeeper] fell over my leg. The pain gradually increased after the game. I did an MRI. The ligament is at such a stage that it could well have been ruptured. I have been asked to rest for four weeks and during that period I will not be able to take part in any kind of practice. It feels really bad that I could not go," said a dejected Nabib. 

Bangladesh suffered another blow yesterday night when SM Monjurul Rahman tested positive for coronavirus. He too has been left behind. 

Players and officials of the national team were tested on Tuesday night after the second friendly against Nepal.

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) said it would arrange a second test for Monjurul after three days. If he returns another positive test, head coach Jamie Day will make a decision about his replacement. Day himself tested positive for a second time on Monday and will have to stay in isolation in Dhaka for the time being. He can only join the team in Qatar if he returns a negative test.

Bangladesh will quarantine for three days at a hotel in Doha with access to gym and swimming facilities. They are scheduled to play warm-up matches against local sides on November 25 and 28.