Sylhet to host Afg-BD match

The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is set to shift the venue for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifying tie between Bangladesh and Afghanistan from Dhaka to Sylhet due to an Independence Day programme at the Bangabandhu National Stadium (BNS).

The BNS is scheduled to host Bangladesh’s second home match of the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers on March 26, the same day the country’s premier venue usually hosts a state-run to mark the country’s Independence Day.

“We received preliminary approval from FIFA to host the March 26 match in Sylhet instead of Dhaka. We hope to get final approval by mid-February. We have sent an eight-page form to host the match at the Sylhet District Stadium. We filled up the form and sent photographs of the stadium, which has never hosted a FIFA or AFC match,” BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag said.

“Representatives from FIFA may come here to inspect the venue if they are not satisfied with the form we sent to them, but we are confident that stadium will meet criteria,” said Shohag, adding that rest of Bangladesh’s home matches against India and India at the BNS would remain unchanged.