Bangladesh head coach Peter Butler made three changes to his starting eleven for today's SAFF Women's Championship semifinal against Nepal, with defender Afeida Khandokar returning to the side.

Despite leaving SAFF Championship-winning centre-back Afeida Khandokar out of the starting lineup, defending champions Bangladesh could not avoid a 3-0 defeat to India in their final Group B match of the ongoing SAFF Women's Championship, with defensive errors contributing to two of the goals conceded.

The omission is another setback for Afeida, who was stripped of the captaincy ahead of the tournament.

Afeida was appointed captain in early 2025 after a turbulent period within the squad, when several senior players -- including Sabina Khatun, Maria, Monica Chakma and Masura Parvin -- reportedly fell out with the British coach.

On Tuesday in Sydney, Bangladesh open their campaign against nine-time champions China, marking their first appearance at the continental showpiece and the country’s first participation in Asia’s premier competition since 1980.

“Hit her, hit her hard,” shouted Afeida Khandokar, captain of the Bangladesh women’s football team, from the stands of the Mohammad Ali Boxing Stadium in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh made a significant stride in the latest FIFA Women's World Ranking by climbing five spots to 128th place -- a timely morale boost ahead of the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers, scheduled for June 29 to July 5 in Myanmar.

Bangladesh women's football team captain Afeida Khandokar believes their recent matches against Jordan and Indonesia provided crucial experience ahead of the upcoming AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers which will run from June 29 to July 5.