Jamal, Hamza visit India with the dream of victory

Since English Premier League player Hamza Chowdhury joined the team, the spirit of the entire Bangladesh football team has changed. This was also evident in the press conference held just before the India tour. Sports advisor, BFF president, coach, player - everyone seemed to be speaking in the same tone. The changed Bangladesh will make India win this time. Why not? For the first time, an English Premier League player is playing in a South Asian national team and that too in a Bangladesh jersey.

Bangladesh last won against India in football 25 years ago. Bangladesh defeated India 1-0 in the South Asian Games in October 1999. Since then, the two countries have played 13 matches in various tournaments. But the red-green jersey holders have not been able to beat India in a single match. Not only that, since 1978, Bangladesh have won only two matches in 31 matches against India with a record of draws in 13 matches and loss in the remaining 16 matches. Will Bangladesh be able to overcome a 25-year win drought against India, which have a very strong position in the past statistics?

Dewan Hamza Chowdhury, who plays for Leicester City in the English Premier Football League, is showing a new dream to the country's football fans. Hamza will be the first footballer to play for a South Asian country at the top level in English football. Hamza wants to show the craze that has been created in football around him on the field. Hamza and Jamal left for Shillong at 9 am on Thursday (March 20) with the aim of defeating India. The Bangladesh football team reached Shillong in Assam via Kolkata.

Before leaving for India, Hamza practiced with the Bangladesh team at the Bashundhara Kings Arena on March 19. He has adapted well with the team. That is why the national team footballers shared their dreams around this footballer.

Defender Tapu Barman said: "He (Hamza Chowdhury) officially participates in training with us. Of course, this is a good thing for us. He is fit. Others in the team are fit. I think it's a positive thing. With Hamza's inclusion, there is a desire to win among everyone in the team."

Topu said: "Our preparation, mental capacity, mindset are completely different this time. That seems to me to be a big thing. Our mindset is to win.' Star footballer Sohel Rana said, 'Hamza is adapting very quickly with us. It seems like he has been playing with us for a long time."

Meanwhile, Arif, Piyas Ahmed Nova and Taj Uddin were left out of the final team at the last minute. As a result, Team Bangladesh went to India with a contingent of 36 people, including 24 players. If the final team of 23 people is announced before the India match, one more footballer will be left out. Bangladesh's 24-man squad against India: Mitul Marma, Sujan Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Shrawan, Rahmat Mia, Shakil Hossain, Isa Faisal, Kazi Tariq Raihan, Topu Barman, Saad Uddin, Shakil Ahad Topu, Mohammad Hridoy, Syed Shah Kazem Kirmani, Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana Junior, Chandan Roy, Mujibur Rahman Johnny, Sheikh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuiyan, Hamza Chowdhury, Faisal Ahmed Fahim, Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon, Mohammad Ibrahim, Al Amin.

On the other hand, Sunil Chhetri left a big message behind despite going to India with great enthusiasm and enthusiasm. India, having defeated Maldives 3-0 in a friendly match on March 19, has indicated that they will play good football at home against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh also knows that the first round match of the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against them will not be easy at all. However, millions of Bangladesh football fans are expecting that Bangladesh, fueled by Hamza, will give it their all in the on-field battle against India.