No Bangabandhu Gold Cup; WC qualifiers in Qatar?
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) wants to complete the first phase of the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) before starting the national team's camp for the proposed matches of World Cup Qualifiers due to uncertainty over Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
As per the BFF calendar and BPL fixtures, the league was supposed to remain suspended from February 23 to late April for the preparation and engagement of the national team in Bangabandhu Gold Cup and World Cup Qualifiers and engagement of the clubs in AFC Cup. However, things have changed due to the unavailability of teams and sponsors for Bangabandhu Gold Cup.
"It is not possible to hold the Bangabandhu Gold Cup in March as we did not get positive feedback from the nations we communicated with. Some of them have travel restrictions, some have domestic commitments while some are not willing to spend a quarantine period," BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem told The Daily Star yesterday, adding they have managed only fifty percent of sponsors for the tournament.
The BFF is likely to officially announce the postponement of the tournament on Saturday.
"The league is supposed to be suspended from February 23 after the 10th round of matches, but I have been instructed to prepare the schedule for the last three rounds of the first phase," professional league committee manager Zaber Bin Taher Ansari told The Daily Star.
Meanwhile, the BFF is mentally preparing to play the three remaining home matches of the World Cup Qualifiers -- against Afghanistan, India and Oman -- at a centralised venue overseas.
Even though the official schedule of the matches is yet to be disclosed, the game's local governing body is in an uncomfortable position as Afghanistan have expressed their unwillingness to travel to Bangladesh in March due to coronavirus concerns.
"The AFC has sent us a letter asking us to submit our opinion within February 10 regarding the remaining matches of the World Cup Qualifiers as it wants to complete the group stage by June if it can't arrange the matches in March due to travel restrictions, time-frame of quarantine period or worsening situation of coronavirus," Shohag said.
Qatar have already proposed to host the remaining Group E matches from March 24 to April 4.
BFF president Kazi Salahuddin had, on Saturday, told this reporter that they are likely to forego home advantage and agree on playing in Qatar as India, Afghanistan and Oman have already agreed to playing at a single venue.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Day wants to start the camp from the first week of March with an eye on friendly matches in March's FIFA Window, however, the BFF is still waiting to learn the fate of the World Cup Qualifiers.
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