Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF), in a pioneering move, recently organised trials for expatriate footballers, and it is now expected that a number of these overseas players will be invited to the preliminary camp for the upcoming AFC U-23 Championship. The trials, held from June 28th to 30th, saw 49 footballers participate across the Under-19 and Under-23 age groups, with keen anticipation now building over how many will make the cut.
Following the trials, BFF Technical Director Saiful Bari Titu had hinted at a further assessment for the U-23 expatriate players during an official press conference on July 1st. This sentiment was further clarified yesterday after a meeting of the National Team Committee, where Executive Member and Media Committee Chairman Amirul Islam Babu stated, "Six to seven expatriate footballers who attended the U-23 trials may be called up."
Among the players who particularly caught the eye during the trials were Bishtok Chakma, Zayan Ahmed, Casper Haque, Iman Alam, Ibrahim Newaz, Samir Alam, Tasin Iqbal, and Ifaz Ahmed. The BFF's specific mention of 6-7 players has naturally sparked considerable interest within Bangladeshi football circles, as speculation mounts over who will receive the coveted call-up.
In global football, it is typically the coach who selects players for the squad. However, the BFF is yet to appoint a head coach for the Bangladesh U-23 team. Once a coach is appointed, they will be responsible for calling up the players. Therefore, until the preliminary squad is officially announced, it remains impossible to definitively state which expatriate footballers will be included.
A final football squad usually comprises 23 players, with preliminary squads often ranging from 30 to 35 individuals. The AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers are scheduled for the first week of September, and the U-23 team's camp is expected to commence towards the end of July. Full-scale training is anticipated to begin after the Abahani-Kings AFC Challenge League match on August 12th. Expatriate players who are called up to the U-23 squad will have another opportunity to prove themselves, with the potential to then travel to Vietnam with the team.
This initiative brings to mind the case of Australian-based expatriate Arham Islam, who joined the Bangladesh U-17 team last year. He earned his place in the squad through his performance after arriving in Bangladesh to play.
However, after the tournament, he had to purchase his return ticket to Australia at his own expense. It remains unclear whether the footballers called up to the preliminary squad, having already demonstrated their abilities once, will again be required to cover their own travel costs. This financial aspect could be a significant concern for the expatriate players, highlighting the need for clearer policies on financial support.
