Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler named a 23-member squad on Wednesday for the SAFF Women’s Championship in Goa, with the defending champions chasing a third successive regional title when the tournament begins on 25 May.
Afeida Khandaker will captain the side. Defender Arpita Biswas, who skippers the Bangladesh Under-20s, and midfielder Momita Khatun come in as the two new faces. Defender Surma Jannat replaces Nabiran Khatun, who misses out with an ACL injury.
Butler trimmed the squad from the 26 he took to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia last March. Sapna Rani, Munki Akter, Ali Akter, Airin Khatun and Most Sultana drop out on form grounds.
“She (Nabiran) has got an ACL injury. She wants to play, but she’s not fit, not 100 percent fit,” Butler said.
“Sapna and Munki had poor performances and were not performing at the desired level. Hopefully, one day they will realise that I’m doing them a favour. So they are being left out of the group. They’re not training with the group for valid reasons, poor performance,” he added.
Former two-time SAFF-winning captain Sabina Khatun also misses out, along with Krishna Rani Sarker, Masura Parvin, Sanjida Akhter and Matsushima Sumaiya, all out of the squad since falling out with Butler after the last tournament. Sweden-based Anika Rania Siddique, who has played club football in Australia, keeps her place.
“Our target is to be hat-trick champions. We have made the necessary preparations for that. BFF has placed importance on this tournament,” BFF women’s wing chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron said at the press conference.
The squad flies to Bangkok on Thursday for a 15-day training camp, including two closed-door practice matches against Thai club sides, before flying on to Goa on 21 May.
Bangladesh sit in Group B with hosts and five-time champions India, plus Maldives. They open against Maldives on 28 May and close the group stage against India on 31 May. The top two from each group go through to the semi-finals on 3 June. The final takes place on 6 June.
Bangladesh beat Nepal 3-1 in the 2022 final for their first SAFF title, and beat Nepal again 2-1 in the 2024 final to retain it.
Squad: Afeida Khandaker (captain), Rupna Chakma, Mile Akter, Ritu Porna Chakma, Maria Manda, Monika Chakma, Mosammat Sagorika, Swarna Rani, Halima Akter, Sheuli Azim, Surma Jannat, Kohati Kisku, Surovi Akter Arfin, Shamsunnahar, Shamsunnahar Junior, Unnoti Khatun, Arpita Biswas, Momita Khatun, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Umehla Marma, Tohura Khatun, Anika Rania Siddique, Sauravi Akanda Prity.
