Booters arrive in Shillong to play against India

Bangladesh national football team reached the Indian hill city of Shillong on Thursday afternoon via Kolkata to compete in their first away match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers against hosts India on March 25, reports UNB.

The team left Dhaka for Kolkata at 9 am on Thursday and reached Shillong Airport at 4 pm local time after waiting for a few hours at Kolkata Airport.

English Premier League footballer and celebrated booter Hamza Choudhury is expected to make his debut for the Bangladesh national team, marking the first time he plays for any national side, in the country's most anticipated match against their giant neighbor India on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong."

Earlier, the full squad of the Bangladesh team, including Hamza Chowdhury took part in the final practice session on Wednesday evening at the Bashundhara Kings Arena after the team's official photo session.

Although the Bangladesh football team has reached the match venue, Shillong, Spanish head coach Javier Cabrera has yet to finalise the 23-member final squad, which will be decided during the team's manager meeting on March 24.

A 24-member Bangladesh team reached Shillong including two new faces Hamza Choudhury and forward Al Amin, although 27 footballers took part in team's official photo session on Wednesday.

Italian league playing Fahamedul Islam, who joined the national team training camp in the Saudi city Taif and played a preparatory match there, returned home directly from Saudi Arabia as the coach not considered him for the final squad. Besides, two more players - defenders Papon Singh and Sushanto Tripura - who injured in Saudi Arabia also excluded from the final squad.