Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has confirmed that promising forward Cuba Mitchell is not part of the current squad preparing for the India Asian Cup Qualifiers, saying the youngster “will have his moment” once he gains more playing time with Bashundhara Kings.
Speaking during the team’s training camp in Dhaka National Stadium on Tuesday ahead of the Nepal friendly, Cabrera clarified that Mitchell remains firmly on his radar but is not yet ready for senior international duty. “Cuba is a player with talent. I’m pretty sure he’s going to have his moment to join the national team, but he’s not in that moment right now,” Cabrera said. “After he gets more minutes with Kings, you’ll see him here in future 100%.”
The coach’s comments came as Bangladesh continued their preparation under assistant coach Hasan Al Mamun, with Cabrera expected to rejoin the full 24-man camp once all Bashundhara Kings players arrive on 7 November. The national side, who will face Nepal before hosting India in the qualifiers, have so far been training with 14 players.
Cabrera explained that keeping the group compact was deliberate to maintain training quality. In his words, “If you start with 30 or 35 players, the difference in level becomes too high and the intensity drops. We always want around 25-26 players to keep performance high.”
The Spaniard also pointed to Bangladesh’s lack of a consistent domestic league as a challenge for player assessment. With most footballers not training regularly after club seasons end, Cabrera believes national camps are crucial for maintaining fitness. “If we give them too much rest, performance drops. The best place for them to stay fit is with the national team,” he noted.
While Bangladesh’s immediate focus is on Nepal, Cabrera made it clear that the ultimate objective is to beat India at home. “The main target is preparation and winning against Nepal, but the main objective is beating India,” he said with confidence.
For now, fans will have to wait to see Cuba Mitchell in red and green, but Cabrera’s words suggest it is a matter of when, not if.
