BHF names 26-member preliminary squad for Asian Champions Trophy

Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) yesterday announced a 26-member preliminary squad for the Men’s Asian Champions Trophy in Punjab, India, from October 27 to November 5.

The selection committee retained all players from the Asian Games squad except midfielder Mainul Islam Kaushik and added nine players -- Mehrab Hossain Samin, Nuruzzaman Nayan, Abed Uddin, Tayeb Ali, Tanvir Rahman Siyam, Mohammad Abdullah, Mahmud Hasan, Al Nahian Shuvo and Arshad Hossain.

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They will attend a nine-day camp at Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium from Wednesday, with German coach Peter Gerhard Rach expected to arrive in Dhaka before training begins, before Bangladesh leave for India on October 23 with an 18-member team.

Bangladesh will compete in the continent’s top-tier tournament, launched in 2011, for the second time, having last featured as hosts in 2021. They earned their place after finishing seventh at the recently concluded Asian Games and following Pakistan’s withdrawal from the six-nation event.

BHF joint secretary Ariful Haque Prince said the organisers would cover accommodation, local transport and food, but not airfares, after the federation informed FIH president Tayyab Ikram of its financial constraints.