Bangladesh national team's head coach Lodewijk de Kruif recalled four senior players and included three new faces into the preliminary 32-member squad for the first two matches of the Joint Qualifiers (World Cup and Asian Cup)as well as the two friendly matches against Singapore and Afghanistan later this month.

Muktijoddha Sangsad's striker Enamul Haque has been rewarded for his rich vein of form with a recall after five years while striker Towhidul Alam Sabuz, midfielder Emon Babu and defenders Rezaul Karim and Mohammad Linkon have also got call-ups back into the national squad. The three fresh faces are Mohammedan goalkeeper Ashraful Islam Rana, Team BJMC goalkeeper Mohammedan Nayeem and under-23 squad's winger Jewel Rana. The Dutch coach has also kept Germany-based midfielder Reasat Khaton, who once had a trial with the national team ahead of the 2013 SAFF Championship, in his 32-member preliminary squad.

Goalkeepers Nayeem and Rana played only one and two matches for their respective clubs during the ongoing league while Sabuz returned to the national fold after five years and Reza after four years. 

Meanwhile, strikers Mithun Chowdhury and Shakhawat Hossain Rony and defender Atiqur Rahman Meshu – all three part of the 23-member squad for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup -- have lost their places.

“The coach (de Kruif) observed the performance and fitness level of the all players who were already in his reckoning. But he also picked up a few new faces after watching 20 to 25 matches of the league. He scrutinised every player before taking a decision on them,” said goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler, in the absence of de Kruif who left Bangladesh yesterday to attend the marriage ceremony of his brother in Germany.

REASAT KHATON

The Dutch coach is expected to return to Bangladesh on May 19, two days after the residential camp starts at the BFF House.

Schweichler said that they would emphasise on goalkeeping and defending set-pieces during the camp as Bangladesh suffers badly from set-pieces. 

“Goalkeeping is very complex job and it is not just catching the ball on the line. Goalkeepers need football skill, catching skill, tactical skill and the problem is that goalkeepers in Bangladesh, in general, lack the tactical skill. Even though we have short time, we will have to improve the overall standard of the goalkeepers,” said the German goalkeeping coach.

This squad is expected to be trimmed to 23 members before Bangladesh host Singapore on May 30 and Afghanistan on June 2 for the two friendly matches. Bangladesh will then host Kyrgyzstan on June 11 and Tajikistan on June 16 for the first two matches of the Joint Qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup.

PRELIMINARY SQUAD 

Goalkeepers: Liton, Sohel, Himel, Nayeem, Ashraful.
Defenders: Raihan, Nasiruddin, Tapu, Nasir, Yeasin, Yeamin, Linkon, Reza, Kesto.
Midfielders: Hemanta, Jamal, Mamunul, Sohel, Raju, Shahed, Reasat, Emon, Toklish.
Forwards: Wahed, Zahid, Emily, Komol, Jewel, Sajib, Rubel, Enamul, Sabuz.