India will play hosts Bhutan in the inaugural match on Friday at 4 pm (local time) while Nepal will encounter Pakistan at 7 pm (local time) at the same venue in the other opening day’s fixture. 

Bangladesh, which were placed in Group B with Pakistan and Nepal, will play Pakistan on September 30 and face Nepal on October 2. India, the Maldives and Bhutan were put in Group A of the meet.

Two top teams from each of the group will play in the semifinals on October 5 while the final match will be held on October 7.  

In a pre-tournament press conference, Bangladesh coach Golam Rabani Choton and newly appointed captain Mishrat Jahan Mousumi set their initial target to reach the final of the newly introduced SAFF U-18 Women’s Championship.  

Thirteen players of the just concluded AFC U-16 Group F champions Bangladesh team like Maria Manda, Akhi Khantun, Monika Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Anuching Mogini, Anai Mogini, Sajeda Khatun and Shamsunnahar were included in the Bhutan-bound team.

Besides, comparatively senior players like Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Khatun, Ratna, Swapna, Mousumi who were excluded from the Bangladesh U-16 team due to over age, were also included in the U-18 team.   

Bangladesh team finished runners-up in the SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship in Bhutan in last August.  

Members of Bangladesh team: Mahmuda Akhter, Rupna Chakma, Ruksana Begum, Masura Parvin, Sheuli Akhter, Krishna Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Akhter, Ishrat Jahan Ratna, Sirat Jahan Shopna, Mishrat Jahan Mousumi, Marzia, Nazma, Ritu Porna Chakma,  Nilufa Yesmin Nila, Maria Manda, Akhi Khantun, Monika Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Anuching Mogini, Anai Mogini, Sajeda Khatun, Shamsun Nahar, Razia Khatun and Sajeda Khatun.