National team forward Mohammad Ibrahim revealed that everyone in the camp is giving their all in training to seize the two big opportunities ahead.
The excitement of facing India is already there, but now, the added thrill of playing alongside Hamza Choudhury has made things even more special. Ibrahim emphasized that the players are sweating it out in training to make the most of these chances.
Bangladesh will take on India in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers on March 25. In preparation for this high-stakes clash in Shillong, the team wrapped up its fourth day of training at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on Tuesday.
To further sharpen their preparation, Jamal, Ibrahim, and the team will fly to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. There, they will be joined by forward Fahamedul Islam, who plays in Italy’s Serie D. Hamza Choudhury, currently on loan at Sheffield United, is expected to join the squad on March 18. Ibrahim shared that everyone is eager to play alongside him.
“We are training with 30 players. The sessions are tough, and the competition is intense. Who makes it into the best XI and who doesn’t—it’s all up to the coach. He has made it clear that only those who perform well in training will make the starting lineup. That’s why we’ve been pushing ourselves to the limit over the last four days.”
“The match against India is special, and with Hamza Bhai in the team, everyone is excited to play alongside him. Right now, we are all giving our best to secure a spot in the squad and the starting XI. The rest is up to the coach. Matches against India are always competitive, and this one will be no different. We will give everything to bring home the win.”
Midfielder Mohammad Hridoy is also in contention to partner with Hamza in midfield. He is confident that the Leicester City loanee will quickly adapt to the team’s playing style.
“Everyone knows Hamza Bhai is a top-quality player. He has experience playing in the English Premier League, which speaks for itself. If I get the chance to play alongside him, it will be a great honor. And about the team’s combination, I believe once he joins, he will adapt as quickly as possible.”
“We are physically and mentally prepared for this match. There are many players in the squad, and ultimately, the coach will decide who plays. From my side, I’m doing everything I can to secure my place in the starting XI.”
The last time Bangladesh played India on their home turf was in 2019 at Salt Lake Stadium, where they were on the verge of victory but conceded a late goal to settle for a 1-1 draw. Hridoy is eager to achieve a better result this time in Shillong.
“No matter who the opponent is, we always treat them as strong competitors. If we stick to our game plan, we can definitely aim for a positive result, InshAllah.”
