Bangladesh has announced its preliminary squad for the upcoming SAFF Under-20 Championship, set to take place in the Maldivian capital, Malé, from 25 March, with the tournament concluding on 3 April. This regional age-group competition will see participation from all seven SAFF member nations.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) revealed on Monday that six overseas-based players have been included in the national team camp. These players are Abdul Qadir, Bitshok Chakma, Ibrahim Nawaz, Amir Sami, Sushrata Mondal, and Farzad Syed Aftab, representing footballing communities in Italy, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
The tournament will follow a group-stage format with two groups. Bangladesh has been drawn in Group B alongside India and Pakistan, while Group A consists of hosts Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semifinals. Notably, this edition marks the first time the Maldives will host the SAFF U-20 Championship.
At the Under-20 level, this will be the third edition of the SAFF tournament. India won the inaugural edition in 2022, while Bangladesh captured the title in 2024 with an impressive performance, highlighting the nation’s growing youth football credentials.
Bangladesh U-20 Preliminary Squad for SAFF 2026:
| No. | Player Name | Status / Club (if overseas) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Md. Ismail Hossain Mahin | Domestic |
| 2 | S P Rafiz | Domestic |
| 3 | Md. Nahidul Islam | Domestic |
| 4 | Raj Chowdhury | Domestic |
| 5 | Md. Tasin Saheb | Domestic |
| 6 | Md. Yusuf Ali | Domestic |
| 7 | Md. Abdul Riyad Fahim | Domestic |
| 8 | Ashiqur Rahman | Domestic |
| 9 | Md. Ikramul Islam | Domestic |
| 10 | Md. Mithu Chowdhury | Domestic |
| 11 | Sharif Uddin Nirab | Domestic |
| 12 | Sheikh Songram | Domestic |
| 13 | Md. Sifat Sahriar | Domestic |
| 14 | Md. Siam Amit | Domestic |
| 15 | Salah Uddin Sahed | Domestic |
| 16 | Sani Das | Domestic |
| 17 | Ihsan Habib Riduan | Domestic |
| 18 | Md. Sabbir Islam | Domestic |
| 19 | Chandan Ray | Domestic |
| 20 | Samuel Raksam | Domestic |
| 21 | Md. Ratul Hasan | Domestic |
| 22 | Md. Kamal Mridha | Domestic |
| 23 | Nazmul Huda Faisal | Domestic |
| 24 | Md. Shafik Rahman | Domestic |
| 25 | Shaon Richil | Domestic |
| 26 | Md. Murshed Ali | Domestic |
| 27 | Sri Suman Saren | Domestic |
| 28 | Md. Manik | Domestic |
| 29 | Md. Rifat Kazi | Domestic |
| 30 | Md. Apu Rahman | Domestic |
| 31 | Ashiq | Domestic |
| 32 | Md. Joy Ahmed | Domestic |
| 33 | Abdul Qadir | Italy |
| 34 | Bitshok Chakma | United States |
| 35 | Ibrahim Nawaz | United Kingdom |
| 36 | Amir Sami | United States |
| 37 | Sushrata Mondal | Canada |
| 38 | Farzad Syed Aftab | United States |
The inclusion of six expatriate players underscores Bangladesh’s strategy to integrate overseas talent into its youth setup, aiming to enhance the team’s competitive edge. Coaches have emphasised the importance of blending domestic and international experiences to prepare the squad for the challenges ahead in this regional championship.
With the countdown to 25 March underway, all eyes will be on Malé as Bangladesh aims to defend its 2024 title and continue its impressive run in South Asian youth football.
