Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) has pinned its hopes on the experienced campaigners for the Asian Champions Trophy as it announced today a 28-member preliminary squad of the national team, including fresh blood -- midfielder Prince Lal Samanta.

The Asian Champions Trophy will get underway from December 14 with the participation of six teams -- India, Malaysia, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea and Bangladesh.

"We have picked players considering their performances in the just-concluded Premier Division Hockey League as well as considering international performance of their last engagement in the Asian Games," said chief selector Sajed A Adel.

"You are right that some players could not perform well in the league but we have picked them because there are some injury problems in the preliminary squad. So, they will be dropped if they fail to impress in the training camp," said Sajed, who is also vice-president of the federation.

Sajed also informed that the players have been asked to report on November 30 for undergoing Covid-19 tests as the training camp will start at BKSP the following day under coach Iman Gobinathan Ramkrishnamurthy.

Former national coach Mahbub Harun informed that eight of the players -- Biplob Kujur, Mehedi Hasan, Manoj Babu, Shafiul Alam Shishir, Sarwar Morshed Shaon, Rakib Hossain, Khaled Mahmud Rakin and Rajib Das -- had been called to the national team previously but could not make it to the final squad.    

Squad: Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayeed Nippon, Asim Ghope, Khorshedur Rahman, Farhd Ahmed Shitul, Ashraful Islam, Sohanur Rahman Sabuz, Mehedi Hasan, Rezaul Karim Babu, Manoj Babu, Shafiul Alam Shishir, Sarwar Morshed Shaon, Khaled Mahmud Rakin, Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Naim Uddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Hasan Jubair Niloy, Prince Lal Samanta, Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, Milon Hossain, Mainul Islam Koushik, Arshad Hossain, Mahabub Hossain, Deen Islam Emon, Rakibul Hasan, Pushkor Khisha Mimo and Rajib Das.