Dhaka – A 32-member Bangladesh National Football team left here for Tajikistan on Sunday morning to play their first-leg away match for the joint Qualification (Round-1) of the FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 against Afghanistan on September 10 in Tajik capital Dushanbe.
“We’ve reached Dubai on our way to Dushanbe. Now, we’re waiting for our Dushanbe flight which will take off at 10:30pm,” Bangladesh Team Manager Satyajit Das Rupu told UNB over phone in the evening.
In Tajikistan, Bangladeshi booters will play two preparatory matches against two leading Tajik football clubs — FC Kuktosh on September 3 and CSKA Pamir on September 5 — as part of their preparations.
Earlier, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Saturday announced a 32-member final squad of the national football team, comprising 23 booters and nine officials, for their away match against Afghanistan.
Bangladesh have been put in the Group E along with Qatar, Oman, neighbouring India and Afghanistan.
Bangladesh will play their home match against stronger Qatar on October 10, away match with India on October 15, away match against Oman on November 14 and home match with Afghanistan on March 26, away match with Qatar on March 31 Qatar and home matches with India on June 4 and Oman on June 9.
Bangladesh squad: Shahidul Alam Sohel (GK), Ashraful Islam Rana (GK), Anisur Rahman (GK), Sushanto Tripura (DF), Rahmat Mia (DF), Yeasin Khan (DF), Bishwanath Ghosh (DF), Riyadul Hasan (DF), Yeasin Arafat (DF), Tutul Hosain Badsha (DF), Masuk Miah Zoni (MF), Jamal Bhuiyan (MF), Rabiul Hasan (MF), Mamunul Islam Mamun (MF), Sohel Rana (MF), Biplu Ahamed (MF), Arifur Rahman (MF), Mohammad Ibrahim (MF), Mahbubur Rahman (FW), Matin Miah (FW), Nabib Newaz Jiban (FW), Saad Uddin (FW) and Jewel Rana (FW).
