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US-based forward Ronan Sullivan and England-based Mahe Khan, neither of whom has featured for Bangladesh’s senior national football team, have been named in the 28-member preliminary squad for the SAFF Championship.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the squad on Saturday for the tournament, scheduled to be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka from November 5 to 17.
Both Ronan and Mahe have represented Bangladesh at under-20 level. Mahe plays for Moulton FC, which competes in the ninth tier of English football, while Ronan plays college football for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks in the United States.
Ronan was part of the Bangladesh team that won the SAFF U-20 Championship earlier this year. His performances in the tournament caught the attention of national team head coach Thomas Dooley. His twin brother, Declan Sullivan, also played in the competition but has not been included in the preliminary squad.
Defenders Topu Barman and Bishwanath Ghosh have returned to the squad after missing the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 21 to October 6. Forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim, who missed that tournament through injury, has also been recalled.
However, Shakil Ahad Topu, Monjurur Rahman Manik and Shahriar Emon, who were part of the final squad for the ASEAN Cup, have been left out.
Goalkeepers Mohammad Asif and Ishaque Akando will train with the squad but are not among the 28 players named for the tournament.
Bangladesh have been drawn in Group A alongside Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while India, Pakistan and the Maldives make up Group B in the six-team competition.
The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on November 14, with the final scheduled for November 17.
The preliminary squad:
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon.
Defenders: Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Saad Uddin, Zidane Yousuf, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Tariq Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed.
Midfielders: Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Quazem Shah, Jamal Bhuyan, Sheikh Morsalin.
Forwards: Farhaan Ali, Rakib Hossain, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Fahamedul Islam, Mohammad Ibrahim, Minhazul Karim, Ronan Sullivan, Mahe Khan, Shuki Itofusa.