Four seniors snubbed

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) announced a 40-member preliminary squad yesterday for the upcoming Asia Cup with the exclusion of four senior players – forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, midfielder Kamruzzaman Rana, forward Krishna Kumar and defender Imran Hasan Pintoo.

Those four players were a part of the 18-member squad that played in the Hockey World League (HWL) Round-2 in Dhaka in March this year where the hosts finished fifth. Jimmy was not considered on disciplinary grounds while the other three paid for their poor performances in the HWL.

“Actually Jimmy has not been dropped from the squad; rather he is not in the squad due to disciplinary issues,” said chief selector Kamrul Hasan Kismat when contacted. “We will sit with the coach [Oliver Kurtz] and [general secretary Abdus] Sadeque bhai to solve the Jimmy issue. Bangladesh needs Jimmy in the Asia Cup which is a big tournament for us. There is no doubt that he is an important player.”

Jimmy was recommended for a three year suspension from the national team by a BHF probe committee on disciplinary grounds during the HWL Round-2.

When explaining the rationale behind the exclusion of Rana, Krishna and Pintoo, Kismat said, “They were supposed to be dropped from the squad before the HWL due to their poor form. You saw how poorly they played in that tournament. Our target was to beat Oman but we lost to them.

“Besides, they have been playing for a long time and it is time to give room to new players ahead of a busy season. However, we don't have anything against those three players.”

Interestingly however, the selection committee kept Sarwar Hossain in the preliminary squad despite the fact that the midfielder was suspended for two international matches during the HWL.

On the other hand, two senior strikers – Pushkor Khisa Mimo and Hasan Jubair Niloy, who were not in that squad – have been recalled following their brilliant performances in the just-concluded National Hockey Championship. In addition, five other players have been called up for the national team camp for the first time. 

The selected players have been asked to report to Mahbubul Ehsan Rana, the national team's coordinator, on June 2, the day when the camp will get underway at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium.