After the first practice match against Dhaka Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today, the 37-year-old coach will declare a final 23-member squad on Saturday for the AFC II-23 Championship Qualifiers, which will be held in Palestine from July 19 to 23.

"Four players were released yesterday [Thursday! and five more players will be released after the practice match against Dhaka Abahani," said team manager Satyjit Das Rupu, adding that three players had already been released before the Eid-ul-fitr vacation.

The team will play three practice matches ahead of their Group E battle against Jordan, Tajikistan and hosts Palestine.

Following the match today, Ord's charges will fly to Kathmandu on July 9 for their second practice match against the Nepal 11-23 team on July 11.

"We will leave Kathmandu on July 12 after playing the match and then the 11-23 team is scheduled to play the third practice match against the Qatar LI-23 team on July 23. The boys will stay there for three days and practice before heading to Palestine via Jordanon July 17," said Rupu.

Australian coach Andrew Ord trimmed the 11-23 national football team to 28 members yesterday with striker Mannaf Rabbi and midfielders Kaushik Barua, Mehbub Hossain Nayan and Abdul Malek being cut from the team.