Shillong set to host highly anticipated BD-India match today

The much talked-about AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers match between two traditional rivals India and Bangladesh will be held in the Indian hill city of Shillong today (Tuesday), reports UNB.

Bangladesh will start their four-team Group C campaign of the tournament with an away match against their giant rival.

The match will kicks off at 7:30pm (Bangladesh time) at the grass ground of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The match will carry special significance as the Bangladesh-origin English Premier League playing attacking midfielder Hamza Dewan Choudhury is going to make debut for Bangladesh national team, for the first time for any national side.

Moreover, former Indian captain cum celebrated footballer Sunil Chettri returned back to the Indian team again from retirement to play against Bangladesh. Ahead of the match against India, Bangladesh team took a 12-day intensive training in Saudi Arabia's city Taif before moving to India.

Addressing a pre-match official press conference in Shillong on Monday noon, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan said, "although India (ranked 126) is 59 steps ahead of Bangladesh (ranked 185) in FIFA ranking, but we do not keep in mind, and our full focus is to win the match". "English Premier League player Hamza will be the main attraction and inspiration of our team against India and our players want to win the match," he further added.

The Spanish Head Coach of Bangladesh team Javier Cabrera in the press conference said, "It will be an exciting and tight match (against India), we are ready and confident to do well making the things very difficult for India."

The Spanish Head Coach of India Manolo Marquez praised the inclusion of English footballer Hamza in the Bangladesh team.