Bangladesh to start SAFF campaign without Hamza.

Bangla Press Desk: After eight years, Bangladesh is hosting the SAFF Championship, the premier football tournament in South Asia. With less than a month remaining until the event kicks off, the team has suffered a significant setback before the action even begins: it has been revealed that most expatriate footballers will not be available for the start of the tournament.
The SAFF Championship begins on November 4, with Bangladesh launching its campaign on November 5 against Bhutan. However, the official FIFA international window does not open until November 9. Consequently, Bangladesh will have to field a different lineup for the opening match.
Hamza Choudhury, who plays for the English club Sheffield United, has club commitments running until November 7. This scheduling conflict affects other expatriate players as well.
Following a meeting of the national team committee, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Tabith Awal stated, "We will not have a full squad for the opening match of the SAFF Championship. We will only have 90 percent of the expatriate players available after November 9. As a result, we may have to play with a different squad after the first match. The SAFF training camp is scheduled to begin on October 25."
The BFF intends to organize a friendly match to aid tournament preparations, though this would take place outside the official FIFA window. The BFF President mentioned that efforts are underway to bring in a foreign team or arrange a match against a club side. The federation is also concerned about the poor condition of domestic league pitches and is prioritizing the need to minimize the risk of player injuries.
Bangladesh recently conceded nine goals against Indonesia in the ASEAN Cup. Following this heavy defeat, national team head coach Tom Dooley is facing criticism. When asked about the coach's future, Tabith Awal said, "Changes in players and coaching staff are a natural part of the football world. However, that does not mean we have made a final decision yet; the door remains open for any decision at any time, depending on the team's needs." I have brought every department under the purview of accountability regarding the ASEAN Cup. I, too, am bound to be accountable to the committee. Measures are also being taken to ensure greater accountability regarding the players' performance.
BP/TD