Bangladesh ramped up their SAFF Men’s Under-20 Championship preparations on Sunday by calling up six expatriate footballers for the tournament in Maldives starting on 23 March. The Bangladesh Football Federation confirmed the move as the squad prepares in Dhaka. The aim stays clear: add bite, balance and belief.
BFF vice-president Fahad Karim confirmed the decision and shut down months of speculation. He framed it as a competitive necessity rather than a gamble. Bangladesh want options, not excuses.
Five of the six names feel familiar. England-based Ibrahim Nawaz and USA-based duo Bitoshoke Chakma and Amir Sami already passed through trials in Dhaka last June. They know the system and the expectations.
Farzad Aftab and Kadir Abdul return after featuring in last year’s SAFF Under-20 Championship. Aftab plays in Croatia’s fifth tier, while Kadir Abdul competes in Italy’s sixth tier. Continuity matters at this level.
The new face brings fresh intrigue. Shushrata Mondol, an 18-year-old right-back from the Canadian college league, earns his first-ever Bangladesh call-up. Opportunity knocks early in his career.
The plan runs tight but realistic. The expatriates should arrive in Dhaka by late February or early March to integrate with the local group. Preparation time matters more than passport stamps.
