Taking 17 new faces under consideration, 35 players were called in the preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF and the Asian Games qualifying round matches.

All the players will report to national coach Andrew Ord at the BFF Bhaban today while the camp will also start from today at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Pratisthan (BKSP).

Ahead of the Asian Games qualifying round matches to be held in August 18 to September 2 and the SAFF Championship (to be confirmed the schedule). Besides  Bangladesh will play a FIFA international friendly match against Laos on March 27.  Among the 13 new faces, none of them ever wear the national team’s jersey or had any call even in the preliminary squad and rest of the among 18 the players, some of them played in the national side otherwise or had call in the initial squad.  

Among the new faces, might be most of them can make their debut as national booter.

The new faces are – Mahfuz Hassan Pritom, Mohammed Jahid, Pashban Mollah, Abu Sufian Shufil, Manzur Rahman Manik, Biplu Ahmed, Saddam Hossain Ani, Javed Khan, Ali Hossain, Biswanath Ghosh, Anisur Rahman Ziku, Matin Meah, Mohammed Ibrahim, Rahim Uddin, Rahmat Meah, Mohammed Shwadhin and Shushnata Tripura.

However, the national coach, Andrew Ord gave important to youngsters as almost fifty per cent players of his preliminary list are brand-new faces.

While the rest of 18 players, who are experienced playing for the national side and or at least had call, are – Mamunul Islam, Faisal Magmu, Taqlis Ahmed, Bipul Ahmed, Mitul Hassan, Yasin Khan, Fazle Rabbi, Utam Kumar Banik, Tapu Barman, Jamal Bhuiyan, Hemnata Vincent Biswas, Jewel Rana, Nurul Nayeem Faisal, Ashraful Islam Rana, Jahid Hossain, Masuk Meah Jony, Abdullah, Jafar Iqbal and Towhidul Alam Sabuj.   

Bangladesh, Andrew Ord, the Irish born Australian, who followed the recently concluded Saif Power Battery Bangladesh Premier League football and the Walton Independence Cup football tournament, made the 35-man list.

Meanwhile, former national team captain Zahid Hassain Emily, Enamul, Atiqur Rahman Mishu, Shakhawat Rony, Sohel Rana, and Nehal, who played for the last national team against Bhutan in the World Cup Playoffs in Thimpu could not draw the attention of coach when Bangladesh team conceded a humiliating 3-1 defeat and did play any international match for last 17 months.     

Among the 17 new faces, Mohammed Ibrahim, Matin Meah, Pashban Mollah, Mohammed Jahid, Abu Sufian Shupil, Rahmat Meah, Shuhshanta Tripura, Biplu Ahmed, Saddam Hossain Any and Javed Khan, who performed well in the league and the Independence Cup tournament, are very promising and may be considered in the final squad.