The Bangladesh national football team’s preparation for the upcoming match against India began on Thursday with the start of the training camp in Dhaka, where fourteen players reported to team manager Amer Khan on the opening day.

Head coach Javier Cabrera is set to call up a preliminary squad of 26 players, with Bashundhara Kings once again contributing the highest number — ten footballers. The Kings’ representatives include goalkeeper Mehedi Hasan Srabon; defenders Topu Barman, Md Saad Uddin, and Md Taj Uddin; midfielders Sohel Rana and Mohammad Hridoy; and forwards Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, and Foysal Ahmed Fahim.

Despite expectations, Cabrera has once again overlooked England-born Bangladeshi player Cuba Mitchell, who has already featured for Bashundhara Kings in the Bangladesh Premier League and AFC Challenge League.

Bangladesh will play a friendly against Nepal on 13 November before facing India in the AFC Qualifiers on 18 November.

Italian expatriate Fahamidul Islam, who appeared against Singapore, Hong Kong, and China, was left out of the squad. Having received two yellow cards in previous AFC qualifiers, he remains suspended for the India match. Although he could have played against Nepal, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) decided not to fly him in for a single game. No replacement has been named in his place.

Midfielder Syed Shah Quazem Kirmane, who missed the last match against Hong Kong, China, has been recalled to the provisional squad.

Overall, the selection for the Nepal and India fixtures carries no major surprises, reflecting Cabrera’s continued faith in his existing core of players.