Bangladesh will play a match against India in the Asian Cup qualifiers on March 25. The Bangladesh football team is camping in Saudi Arabia to prepare for that match. The African country Sudan is also camping there. Although Bangladesh was supposed to play a practice match against Sudan today (Saturday), it will not take place.
In a message sent to BFF from Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh team manager Amer Khan said, “The match with the Sudan team was supposed to be played today. The Sudan coach wanted to play a match with us one day between March 8 or 9. He also announced the match today last night. However, in the morning they said they could not play today. They will announce the time later.”
The Sudan match is important in Bangladesh’s context for preparing against India. Although there were many plans in the Bangladesh camp for today’s match, the game did not take place. Whether or when the game will be played tomorrow depends mainly on Sudan. So far, Sudan has been positive about playing. If the game is not played in the end, then Bangladesh’s Saudi tour and preparations will be lacking.
Bangladesh senior defender Rahmat Mia has arrived in Saudi Arabia a day after receiving his visa late. He does not see any problem in being one day behind, saying, “I have also practiced with the team in Dhaka. There is no problem with fitness. I have started practicing again after coming here.”
The Bangladesh team had a training camp in Taif at this time last year. This time the weather seemed a little colder, Rahmat said, “We practiced here last year too. It didn’t feel so cold then as it does this time. It will be positive for us, the weather will be like this in the evening in Shillong, India.” The India match is a couple of weeks away. So, the national team’s assistant coach, Hasan Al Mamun, said that they will start working on analyzing the opponent, “We are practicing by identifying India’s weak points.”