The countdown has begun for the SAFF Under-20 Championship, scheduled to take place from 25 March in Malé, the capital of the Maldives, with the tournament concluding on 3 April. This edition of the regional youth football competition will see participation from all seven SAFF-affiliated nations.
On Monday, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the preliminary squad for the Bangladesh Under-20 team. Notably, the squad features six expatriate players, reflecting the growing global presence and talent of Bangladeshi footballers. The six foreign-based players included are: Abdul Qadir, Bitshok Chakma, Ibrahim Nawaz, Amir Sami, Sushrata Mondal, and Farzad Syed Aftab.
The tournament format will see the teams split into two groups. Following the draw, Bangladesh has been placed in Group B alongside India and Pakistan, while Group A comprises the hosts Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals, making the competition both fierce and unpredictable.
This year marks the first time the Maldives has hosted the SAFF U20 Championship. The tournament itself is relatively young, with the inaugural edition held in 2022, where India claimed the title. In the most recent edition in 2024, Bangladesh impressed with exceptional football and emerged champions, raising expectations for the team’s performance this year.
The Bangladesh U20 preliminary squad is as follows:
| No. | Player Name | Position/Note | Club/Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Md. Ismail Hossain Mahin | – | – |
| 2 | S P Rafiz | – | – |
| 3 | Md. Nahidul Islam | – | – |
| 4 | Raj Chowdhury | – | – |
| 5 | Md. Tasin Saheb | – | – |
| 6 | Md. Yusuf Ali | – | – |
| 7 | Md. Abdul Riyad Fahim | – | – |
| 8 | Ashiqur Rahman | – | – |
| 9 | Md. Ikramul Islam | – | – |
| 10 | Md. Mithu Chowdhury | – | – |
| 11 | Sharif Uddin Nirab | – | – |
| 12 | Sheikh Songram | – | – |
| 13 | Md. Sifat Sahriar | – | – |
| 14 | Md. Siam Amit | – | – |
| 15 | Salah Uddin Sahed | – | – |
| 16 | Sani Das | – | – |
| 17 | Ihsan Habib Riduan | – | – |
| 18 | Md. Sabbir Islam | – | – |
| 19 | Chondon Ray | – | – |
| 20 | Samuel Raksam | – | – |
| 21 | Md. Ratul Hasan | – | – |
| 22 | Md. Kamal Mridha | – | – |
| 23 | Najmul Huda Faisal | – | – |
| 24 | Md. Shafiq Rahman | – | – |
| 25 | Shaon Richil | – | – |
| 26 | Md. Murshed Ali | – | – |
| 27 | Sri Sumon Saren | – | – |
| 28 | Md. Manik | – | – |
| 29 | Md. Rifat Kazi | – | – |
| 30 | Md. Apu Rahman | – | – |
| 31 | Ashiq | – | – |
| 32 | Md. Joy Ahamed | – | – |
| 33 | Abdul Qadir | – | Italy |
| 34 | Bitshok Chakma | – | USA |
| 35 | Ibrahim Nawaz | – | UK |
| 36 | Amir Sami | – | USA |
| 37 | Sushrata Mondal | – | Canada |
| 38 | Farzad Syed Aftab | – | USA |
The inclusion of these expatriate players underscores Bangladesh’s commitment to blending domestic talent with internationally experienced players. Fans and analysts alike will be closely watching Group B, as Bangladesh faces traditional rivals India and Pakistan, making the group stage highly competitive.
With the team finalising preparations and the tournament approaching rapidly, expectations are high for Bangladesh U20 to defend their title and continue their impressive trajectory in South Asian youth football.