After nearly four years, Bangladesh and India are set to face off again in football today. The match will take place at 7:30 PM (Bangladesh time) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya, India. This will be a historic debut for Hamza Chowdhury, who will wear the Bangladesh jersey for the first time. The English Premier League winner’s inclusion has been a hot topic across Asia.
In the third round of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, Bangladesh and India are placed in Group C, along with Hong Kong and Singapore. The top team from the group will secure a spot in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which will take place in Saudi Arabia.
The match will be broadcast live on T-Sports, and viewers can also watch it on their app.
Local spectators in Shillong will naturally support India, leaving Bangladesh to face an uphill battle. Bangladesh’s coach, Javier Cabrera, and India’s coach, Manolo Marquez, both Spanish, will be key in determining the match’s outcome through their strategies.
Hamza is determined to help Bangladesh win. His caliber is rare, even among the top national teams in Asia. Although primarily a defensive midfielder, Hamza can also play behind the striker, giving Bangladesh an edge. Since his arrival in Bangladesh on March 17, all eyes have been on his performance, especially in this crucial match against India.
Bangladesh has not defeated India since 23 years ago in the SAFF Championship in Dhaka. Today, with Hamza’s debut, Bangladesh aims to end that drought with a victory.
The Bangladesh team is staying at the Vivanta Hotel near Police Bazar in Shillong. At the pre-match press conference, both teams expressed confidence in winning. Bangladesh’s coach, Javier Cabrera, acknowledged the challenges of training in Shillong but remains optimistic about the match.
India, ranked 126th by FIFA, is a strong team in South Asian football, having participated in the Asian Cup finals. However, four of India’s regular players are absent due to injury, which may affect their performance.
Despite being a favorite, India’s coach Manolo Marquez believes that Bangladesh will put up a tough fight. Bangladesh’s captain, Jamal Bhuiyan, remains unfazed by the rankings and is focused on winning.
This match is significant for both teams, but Bangladesh especially hopes to mark Hamza’s debut with a win. If Bangladesh can secure a victory, it will be a great Eid gift for the country.
