Mohammedan’s Sourav Dewan only new face in Bangladesh’s preliminary squad for ASEAN Cup

Bangladesh football team coach Thomas Dooley on Tuesday announced a 28-member preliminary squad for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, with Mohammedan forward Sourav Dewan the only new face.

Dooley left out all the overseas-based players, including Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Zayyan Ahmed, Fahamedul Islam and Tariq Raihan Kazi, who are currently playing abroad and are expected to join the squad later.

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Aside from those players, Dooley has retained the proven campaigners who have represented Bangladesh at international level in recent years under either him or his predecessor, Javier Cabrera.

Sourav earned his maiden senior call-up after an impressive domestic campaign last season, scoring 12 goals -- five in nine league appearances and seven in four Federation Cup matches.

The forward represented the Bangladesh Olympic team at the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament in the Maldives in June, but this is his first call-up to the senior national side.

“Like every footballer, I also dreamt of playing for the national football team and I am really happy to get a call-up for the senior national team,” Sourav told The Daily Star on Tuesday. “I will be trying my level best to maintain my consistency in the training camp as I want to make my place in the final squad, then I want to play in the starting eleven.”

The national team’s preparation is likely to begin on August 27, with the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup scheduled to take place in Indonesia from September 21 to October 6.

Preliminary squad: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehdi Hasan Srabon, Anisur Rahman Zico, Topu Barman, Shakil Ahad Topu, Bishwanath Ghosh, Saad Uddin, Taj Uddin, Rahmat Mia, Abdullah Omar, Sakil Hossain, Isa Faisal, Jamal Bhuiyan, Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana Jr, Mohammad Ridoy, Sheikh Morsalin, Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah, Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Monjurur Rahman Manik, Minhazul Karim Shadin, Rafiqul Islam, Mohammad Ibrahim, Sourav Dewan, Rabby Hossain Rahul.