Bangladesh coach Thomas Dooley has named a 28-man preliminary squad for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, with Mohammedan Sporting Club forward Sourav Dewan earning his first senior call-up.
The national team coach announced the squad on Tuesday as Bangladesh begin preparations for the tournament in Indonesia, which runs from September 21 to October 6.
Sourav is the only new face in Dooley’s preliminary group. The forward earned his chance after an impressive domestic campaign last season, scoring 12 goals, including five in nine league appearances and seven in four Federation Cup matches.
The 24-year-old also represented the Bangladesh Olympic team at the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives in June. He will now compete for a place in the senior squad.
“Like every footballer, I also dreamt of playing for the national football team and I am really happy to get a call-up for the senior national team,” Sourav told The Daily Star.
“I will be trying my level best to maintain my consistency in the training camp as I want to make my place in the final squad, then I want to play in the starting eleven.”
Dooley has, however, left all overseas-based players out of the preliminary squad. Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Zayyan Ahmed, Fahamedul Islam and Tariq Raihan Kazi remain unavailable at this stage because of their club commitments abroad.
The players could join the Bangladesh camp later, giving Dooley more options before the final squad takes shape.
The American coach has otherwise retained the core of the squad that has featured regularly for Bangladesh under either him or former coach Javier Cabrera.
The team’s preparation should begin around August 27. Dooley will then have a short window to assess his players before Bangladesh head to Indonesia for the inaugural ASEAN Cup.
The tournament will provide another test for Dooley’s developing side as Bangladesh look to compete against stronger teams in the region.
For Sourav, meanwhile, the immediate challenge is to turn his first senior call-up into a place in the final squad.
The forward has already made his ambition clear. After producing consistently at club level, he now wants to prove that he can deliver on the international stage.
Preliminary squad
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehdi Hasan Srabon, Anisur Rahman Zico
Defenders: Topu Barman, Shakil Ahad Topu, Bishwanath Ghosh, Saad Uddin, Taj Uddin, Rahmat Mia, Abdullah Omar, Sakil Hossain, Isa Faisal
Midfielders: Jamal Bhuiyan, Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana Jr, Mohammad Ridoy, Sheikh Morsalin, Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah
Forwards: Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Monjurur Rahman Manik, Minhazul Karim Shadin, Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Ibrahim, Sourav Dewan, Rabby Hossain Rahul
