SPORTS REPORTER

Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) has finalised a 20-member squad for next month’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup in India, leaving out six players from the squad that led them to the final round.

Goalkeeper Nayon, Shumonto Chakma, Shahidul Islam, Tyeb Ali, Saddam Hossain and Shimul Islam are the players who have been left out. Among these six, midfielder Tyeb had played in the recent Asia Cup in India.

While members of the coaching staff declined to comment on the issue, BHF’s general secretary Riazul Hasan said that the omissions have been made by the coaching staff and selection panel based on performances in the recent Malaysia tour as well as the three-month-long camp.

“The decisions were based on their performances, both in the camp and the Malaysia tour. All of those who have been left out were omitted due to lack of form,” Riazul told The Daily Star.

The BHF spokesman informed that the team would leave for Europe on October 28 to play two matches each against their Swiss and Austrian counterparts. The team would then leave for India on November 18 and play two practice matches against Switzerland and Chile ahead of the Junior World Cup.

Two out of the 20 players will be kept as standbys for the tournament, which runs from November 28 to December 10.

Bangladesh are in Pool F of the 24-team competition alongside heavyweights Australia, France and South Korea.

Bangladesh squad:

Mahmud Hasan, Ashraful Haque, Mehrab Hossain Samin, Ramin Hossain, Enam Sharif, Munna Islam, Rahid Hasan, Azizar Rahman, Sabbir Hossain Konok, Din Islam, Ashraful Islam, Mehedi Hasan, Ismail Hossain, Amirul Islam, Hozaifa Hossain, Obaidul Hossain, Tanvir Rahman, Rakibul Islam, Mohammad Abdullah, Shahidur Rahman.