Canadian-born midfielder Shamit Shome has finally arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday night, joining the Bangladesh national football team ahead of their crucial fixture against Hong Kong. The Air Canada flight carrying Shome landed in the capital around 9:30pm, slightly later than the scheduled arrival of 8:30pm due to a brief delay mid-flight.
His arrival brings relief to the Bangladesh camp as the team prepares for their Asian Cup qualifying match, set to take place at the Dhaka National Stadium on 9 October. Shome will get only one full training session with his teammates before the game, as Bangladesh will hold their final practice session tomorrow.
The midfielder last appeared for Bangladesh on 10 June in Dhaka, when the team faced Singapore. He missed the earlier friendly against Bhutan on 4 June due to travel fatigue, having arrived in the country that very morning after a long journey from Canada.
Shome’s presence now means Bangladesh will finally be able to train with a full squad. The team is expected to hold an intensive practice session tomorrow, focusing on tactical drills and team coordination ahead of the decisive clash.
While Bangladesh are just regrouping, visiting side Hong Kong have already completed a full training session today at the Police Ground in Uttara. Their squad trained for nearly ninety minutes under lights, working through attacking transitions and defensive shape. Hong Kong will hold their final practice tomorrow at the main match venue.
Despite the buzz around the Asian Cup qualifiers, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has yet to release any official statement about the visiting team’s arrival or the schedule on their media channels, something that has drawn quiet criticism from fans and followers online.
Meanwhile, excitement among local supporters is growing fast as the match day approaches. Tickets have seen brisk sales, and fans are hopeful that Shome’s late arrival could boost the team’s morale as Bangladesh look to secure an important win against Hong Kong in front of a home crowd.
