BSP-11 Bangladesh prepared for Afghan test

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ZCZC

BSP-11

FOOTBALL-BD-AFGAN-PREVIEW

Bangladesh prepared for Afghan test

DHAKA, June 2, 2021 (BSS)-Bangladesh will take on their South Asian neighbors Afghanistan in the second-leg of FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers scheduled to be held tomorrow (Thursday) at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha.

The match, which is also part of Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers, kicks off at 8 pm (Bangladesh Standard Time).

Private satellite Channel T-Sports and Gazi TV will telecast the match live.

Ranked 149th by FIFA, 35 places ahead of Bangladesh, Afghanistan will go to the field with an upper hand following their performance in the recent time.

There is not much difference in terms of quality between Bangladesh and Afghanistan, but in terms of performance, Afghanistan are a little bit ahead than Bangladesh. In the evolution of time, Afghans are significantly advanced in football.

Back with various problems before the first match, Bangladesh will have to face Afghanistan because the team’s preparation for the World Cup qualifiers matches was not satisfactory. Jamal Bhuyan and Co. played only one practice match against Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club before leaving for Qatar.

On the other hand, Afghanistan have completed their preparation for the World Cup qualifiers very well as they played two practice matches against Indonesia and Singapore. So it can be perceived that they will surely be a little bit ahead than Bangladesh in terms of field performance in tomorrow’s match.

Skipper Jamal Bhuyan categorically admitted that it would be a tough match for them because Afghans are physically superior compared to them.

Jamal however said they are tactically strong having some speedy players in the team and upbeat to give their best to snatch full points against Afghanistan.

Head Coach Jamie Day also echoed Jamal Bhuyan’s statement by saying that it’ll be a tough match against Afghanistan but boys are ready to give their hundred percent effort to snatch a good result.

“Yes it’s very important game tomorrow’s … we are looking forward as well ….. the boys have been doing very hard training from the last week .. we know it’ll be a very tough game because Afghanistan are very good side and some of their players play in Europe, so it need to give our best to get the result, said Jamie.

Jamie Day will definitely miss service of some key players like Bishwanath Ghosh, Yeasin Khan, Saad Uddin, Nabib Newaj Jibon and Ashraful Islam Rana due to injury and off-formed in the tomorrow’s match against Afghanistan.

Nevertheless, the football fans are hoping that Bangladesh will flare up in tomorrow’s match against Afghanistan though head coach Jamie Day’s men earlier repeatedly expressed their firm optimism to snatch points against Afghanistan and India before leaving to Qatar to play the World Cup qualifiers matches.

Despite the absence of some key players in the team ahead of the Afghanistan match, Bangladesh team must be boosted by the presence of winger Mohammad Ibrahim who already joined the team after recovering from COVID-19.

Meanwhile, interest grows among the football lovers with Finland-born Bangladeshi footballer Tariq Raihan Kazi, who will likely make his debut against Afghanistan. The expatriate footballer, despite playing several matches for Bashundhara Kings, has yet to be seen in the red-green jersey.

Despite getting called in the preliminary squad for the first time against Nepal in a friendly series in November last year, Kazi was finally ruled out from the series due to injury. So there is an opportunity for him to wear the red-green jersey of Bangladesh.

Jamie Day also hinted that Tariq Kazi would be in the starting XI in the first match. If there is no other option, Tariq Kazi has a bright chance to play tomorrow’s match against Afghanistan.

Bangladesh’s World Cup dream has already ended. Now the dream of playing Asian Cup campaign has gone. Bangladesh placed at bottom-ranked at the group E point table with one point after five matches while Qatar topped the table with 16 points.

Oman stands at second position in the points table with 12 points while Afghanistan and India are placed in third and fourth position with four and three points respectively.

Bangladesh will play their next matches of the qualifiers against India and Oman on June 7 and 15 respectively at the same venue.

Bangladesh squad: Sahidul Alam, Rasel Mahmud, Anisur Rahman, Rahmat Mia, Topu Barman, Riyadul Hasan, Yeasin Arafat, Rimon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan, Habibur Rahman Sohag, Tariq Raihan Kazi, Mohammad Emon, Jamal Bhuyan, Mohammad Abdullah, Masuk Miah Zoni, Sohel Rana, Biplo Ahamed, Matin Miah, Rakib Hossain, Manik Hossain Molla, Mehadi Hasan, Mahbubur Rahman, Suman Reza, Mohammad Jewel And Mohammad Ibrahim.

BSS/SG/AU/18:30 hrs