The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) on Tuesday announced the final 16-member squads for the women’s and men’s teams for the upcoming SAFF Futsal tournaments in Thailand, scheduled to begin on 13 and 14 January.
Former national football captain Sabina Khatun has been appointed captain of the women’s futsal side, marking her return to an international leadership role. Sabina led the Bangladesh women’s football team for several years but has not featured for the senior side since the fallout with former coach Peter Butler.
With no route back into the national football team, Sabina, along with Masura, Sumaiya, Nila and Krishna, turned their attention to futsal and joined training camps earlier this year. In the squad named on Tuesday, Sabina will lead the team, with Sumaiya Matsumisma named vice-captain. Both players bring valuable overseas futsal experience.
The women’s squad also includes Marzia and Misrat Jahan Mousumi, two former regulars of the national football team who have been outside the senior setup for several years. Their selection marks a return to the national fold through futsal.
Bangladesh last competed in an international women’s futsal event in 2018, when they played in the Asian Cup futsal qualifiers under Sabina’s captaincy. After a seven-year absence, the team is set to return to the international stage, once again with Sabina wearing the armband.
The men’s squad features fewer changes. Canada-based Rahbar Khan, who captained Bangladesh in the Asian futsal qualifiers in Indonesia, retains the captaincy. Several players from that campaign have been included again, while England-based expatriate footballer Iman Alam is among the notable new faces.
