Thomas Dooley has left Canada-based midfielder Shamit Shome out of his starting XI for Bangladesh’s FIFA friendly against San Marino on Friday, despite the player being fully fit.
Dooley lines up in a 4-3-3 formation for his debut as Bangladesh head coach. The match also marks the first time Bangladesh have played a European side on European soil.
Mitul Marma starts in goal, preferred once again despite the return of Anisur Rahman Zico to the squad after former coach Javier Cabrera consistently overlooked him. Topu Barman and Tariq Kazi form the central defensive partnership. Isa Faisal and Saad Uddin fill the full-back positions. Zayyan Ahmed, the US-born left-back who plays his club football for UAE Third Division side Rimal Al-Sahra, misses out at left-back despite his promise.
Jamal Bhuyan captains the side from central midfield. Hamza Choudhury and Sohel Rana Senior complete the three-man midfield. Jamal returns to the starting XI after being regularly left out under Cabrera.
Rafiqul Islam also returns, two years after his last appearance in the starting line-up for Bangladesh. He takes a wide forward role alongside Sheikh Morsalin through the centre and Faisal Ahmed Fahim on the other flank.
The XI shows four changes from the side that started against Singapore in March. Fahamedul Islam, Shakil Ahad Topu, Shamit Shome and Zayyan Ahmed all drop out. Jamal Bhuyan, Rafiqul Islam, Topu Barman and Isa Faisal come in.
Bangladesh XI: Mitul Marma (GK); Topu Barman, Tariq Kazi, Isa Faisal, Saad Uddin; Jamal Bhuyan (c), Hamza Choudhury, Sohel Rana; Rafiqul Islam, Shekh Morsalin, Foysal Ahmed Fahim.
