Dhaka: A day after 18 national team footballers were tested COVID-19 positive, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has decided to retest all 31 players and officials again in two separate medical institutions on Monday irrespective of their previous COVID-19 test results.
The ones who are found to be negative in both the tests will be allowed to join the national camp for Bangladesh’s FIFA World Cup 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 joint qualifiers in October-November. The initial phase of the national training camp was scheduled to start on August 7 but came to a halt after more than 70 per cent of the players who reported to BFF were found to be carrying the deadly virus.
23 players underwent tests in two phases on August 5 and 6 at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital. While 17 were found COVID-19 positive, defender Bishwanath Ghosh had earlier reported as he had already tested positive on August 4.
“We were astonished as we have found 18 players and one official positive (with COVID-19)… So we have decided to test all the players and staff further on Monday. We have communicated with two organisations,’ national team committee chairman Kazi Nabil Ahmed was quoted as saying to Newagebd.net.
He also hinted that BFF might bring in some changes in the current squad if necessary and it would depend on the medical committee’s decision. “We are on discussion with the coach. If we see there is any need for replacements in the squad, we will make them, but it depends on the results of the retests. We also have trust our medical committee,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan, who stays in Denmark, won’t be joining the camp anytime soon as due to travel ban. Finland-born defender Tariq Raihan Kazi is expected to join the camp on August 19 while head coach Jamie Day is expected to arrive from England on August 16. The main phase of the camp is expected to begin from August 22 at the Sarah Resort in Gazipur.
It has been reported that the Englishman has asked all the 36 players to join the camp but five players including Bhuyan and Kazi were not available. Bashundhara Kings’ midfielders Masuk Mia Jonny, Atiqur Rahman Fahad and striker Matin Miah, who had recently recovered from injuries, have been asked to prove their fitness first by their respective clubs.
Out of their four remaining Group E fixtures, Bangladesh will play three home games against Afghanistan, India and Oman on October 8, November 12 and 17 respectively and face Qatar in Doha on October 13.
