The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed it when announcing the 23-member team for the two friendly matches against Nepal. Shamit Som also failed to make the cut.

On Wednesday (September 3), the BFF announced a 23-member squad for the tour. Leicester City’s defensive midfielder Hamza Choudhury and Cavalry FC (Canada) player Shamit Som were not included.

Last Friday, Hamza suffered a hamstring injury during Leicester’s Championship match against Birmingham City. He had to leave the field in the 72nd minute.

Due to that injury and Leicester’s need to prepare for upcoming matches, the club did not release him. Meanwhile, Shamit Som could not join the squad because of club commitments.

Several players who featured against Singapore in the Asian Qualifiers have also been left out of the Nepal tour. Mehedi Hasan Shrabon, Shakil Ahad, Fahamidul Islam, Al-Amin, Sheikh Morsalin, Mojibur Rahman, and Zahid Hasan have all been placed in the U-23 team instead.

However, coach Javier Cabrera has recalled Mohammad Ibrahim and Isa Faisal to the squad. Fortis FC defender Abdullah Omar has earned his first-ever call-up to the national team.

The two friendlies against Nepal will take place on September 6 and 9 at Kathmandu’s Dasharath Stadium. Nepal currently rank 176th in the FIFA rankings, while Bangladesh sit at 184th.

So far in the qualifiers, Bangladesh have played two matches and collected 1 point, standing in third place. Hong Kong are second with 4 points from two matches, while Singapore top the group with 4 points. India are bottom with the same 1 point as Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Squad
Goalkeepers: Sujon Hossain, Mitul Marma, Pappu Hossain.
Defenders: Mehedi Hasan, Rahmat Mia, Tapu Barman, Taj Uddin, Abdullah Omar, Tariq Kazi, Isa Faisal, Sad Uddin.
Midfielders: Mohammad Hridoy, Jamal Bhuiyan, Papon Singh, Sohel Rana (senior), Sohel Rana, Shah Kazem.
Forwards: Arif Hossain, Shahriar Imon, Rakib Hossain, Faisal Ahmed, Mohammad Ibrahim, Sumon Reza.