Qatar match gets FIFA nod

Despite having insufficient preparation, Bangladesh are finally playing their Asian Cup and World Cup Qualifying fixture against Qatar next month as FIFA approved Qatar's proposal to host Bangladesh on December 4 outside of the FIFA calendar.

"Qatar and Bangladesh will play the first fixture of the Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 in over a year, with their Group E clash rescheduled for December 4, 2020," read a statement on the AFC website yesterday.

"Clubs will not be obligated to release their players for the December 4 fixture, which will be staged outside of FIFA's international match calendar, however, both national teams are overwhelmingly comprised of players based in their respective domestic leagues."

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag said they haven't received the official letter from Qatar but his Qataris counterpart verbally ensured the confirmation of FIFA's approval.

Amid Bangladesh's preparation for two Nepal friendlies on Friday and Tuesday, Qatar proposed Bangladesh to play outside the FIFA window as the World Cup Qualifiers were deferred on August 12 to the next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The local game's governing body also gave their nod to play, subject to meeting some conditions and FIFA/AFC approval. "The national team are supposed to leave the country on November 19 for Qatar. The boys are also scheduled to play two practice matches on November 25 and 28," said Shohag.