Bangladesh team announced for Thailand tour, who is in the squad

Bangladesh last played a match in the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers held in Myanmar last July. Since then, Afida Khandaker and Rituparna Chakma have not been able to play any more matches. However, after about three and a half months, the red-green representatives are returning to the field with a FIFA friendly match.

The AFC Women's Asian Cup will be held in Australia in March next year. As part of the preparation for that big stage, the Bangladesh national women's football team will play two friendly matches in Thailand. The women's team's head coach Peter Butler has announced the final 23-member squad for this tour.

Nilufa Yasmin and Sourav Akand were in the Asian Cup qualifiers. However, they have been dropped this time due to their recent poor form. On the other hand, Ruma Akhtar and Sinha Jahan have been called up to the team due to their eye-catching performances in the SAFF Under-20 Championship held in Dhaka this year.

As part of the preparations for the Asian Cup, the Bangladesh team will leave for Thailand tomorrow, where they will play two friendly matches in Bangkok - on October 24 and 27. Earlier, the girls completed a 20-day preparation camp at the Korean EPZ in Chittagong.

The Women's Asian Cup will be held in Sydney, Perth and Gold Coast, Australia, from March 1 to 21 next year. Bangladesh will face North Korea, China and Uzbekistan in Group 'B'.

Bangladesh's 23-member squad:

Goalkeepers: Rupana Chakma, Mili Akhter, Swarna Rani.
Defenders: Nabiron Khatun, Afeeda Khandaker (captain), Kohati Kisku, Ruma Akhter, Shamsunnahar Senior, Halima Akhter, Zainab Bibi, Shiuli Azim
Midfielders: Maria Manda, Monica Chakma, Munki Akhter, Swapna Rani
Forwarders: Umehla Marma, Shaheda Akhter, Mosammat Sultana, Mosammat Sagarika, Tahura Khatun, Shamsunnahar Junior, Rituparna Chakma and Sinha Jahan.