SPORTS REPORTER

Makeshift centre-back Bishwanath Ghosh urged everyone to forget about the key players who are missing for the national team for the Asian Cup Qualifiers, starting from June 8 in Kuala Lumpur.

Bangladesh team turned into a depleted squad due to the absence of defenders Tapu Barman, Tariq Kazi and Saad Uddin, midfielders Masuk Mia Jonny and Hemanta Vincent Biswas ad forwards Suman Reza, Matin Mia and Nabib Newaj Jibon. The mass absence of regular starters has left coach Javier Cabrera in trouble picking the right combination for the qualifiers, where the men in red and green will take on Bahrain, Turkmenistan and Malaysia.

“You all know that some key players could not come with us due to injuries but I think those who are now in the squad are no less good than anyone else. I don’t want to pay much focus on the players who are not with the squad. Rather, I think we have to give our best in every position, whoever plays because we believe in everyone,” the Bashundhara Kings defender said after yesterday’s training session at the PKNS Sports Ground.

Right-back Bishwanath, who has been playing as a centre-back for Bashundhara Kings since Tapu was ruled out of the season due to an ACL injury, has also played in that position against Indonesia in a FIFA friendly recently.

“We will try to give our best when we take to the field against the higher-ranked opponents in Asian Cup Qualifiers, the way we did against Indonesia, who were also much ahead of us in FIFA rankings.

“We believe it is possible to bring good results if we can put our best like we did against Indonesia because everyone is confident” said Bishwanath.