Dhaka: The Bangladesh national football team has safely arrived in the Saudi Arabian city of Al Taif at 5 am (Bangladesh time) today. The team is set to undergo an intensive training camp to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 qualifiers match against India.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, team manager Amer Khan confirmed through an audio message that all team members are in good health. The team departed from Dhaka on Wednesday afternoon for a two-week preparatory camp aimed at enhancing their performance.
The first training session in Al Taif is scheduled for 9 pm Bangladesh time. The camp's location was strategically chosen due to its weather and conditions, which closely resemble those in Shillong, India, where the qualifiers match against India will occur.
The national team will see the arrival of Italian league player Fahamedul Islam on March 10, while Bangladesh-origin English Premier League player Hamza Chowdhury is expected to reach Bangladesh on March 17 to join the team en route to India.
Under the guidance of head coach Javier Cabrera, the team will engage in a series of practice matches against Sudan and a local selection during their stay. The training camp is seen as a critical phase in the team's preparation strategy.
The Bangladesh team is scheduled to return to Dhaka on March 17 after completing their training in Saudi Arabia. They will then head to Shillong, India, for their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match against India, slated for March 25.