Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) on Sunday announced a 28-member preliminary squad of Bangladesh national hockey team for the six-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey) 2021 beginning here on January 14 at the Maulana Bhashani National Stadium here. Participating countries are: India, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh. Read: Premier Hockey: Abahani stay in race beating Mohammedan 4-2 India will play Korea in the opening match at 3:30 pm on Jan 14. Bangladesh will play Malaysia at 6; pm while Pakistan will play Japan at 8:30 pm in other two opening day’s fixture. The titans’ battle between India and Pakistan will be held on Jan 17 at pm 3:30 pm. Read: Premier Hockey: Mohammedan SC beat arch-rival Abahani Ltd 4-0 Bangladesh squad : Biplob Kujur, Abu Sayed Nippon, Ashim Gop (goal keeper), Khorshedur Rahman, Farhad Ahmed, Ashraful Islam, Shohanaur Rahman Sabuj, Mehdi Hasam, Rezaul Karim Babu, Monoj Babu, Shafiul Alam Shisir, Sarwar Morshad Shawon and Khaled Mahmud Rakin (defender), Sarwar Hossain, Roman Sarkar, Nayeemuddin, Fazle Hossain Rabbi, Hasan Jubair Niloy, Prince Lal Samanta (mid-field), Rasel Mahmud Jummy, Milan Hossain, Mainul Islam Kaushik, Arshad Hossain, Mahbub Hossain, Deen Islam Emon, Rakibul Hasan, Pushkar Kisha Mimo and Rajub Das.

Malaysia’s Iman Gobinathan Krishnamurthy, a hockey coach of BKSP, has been appointed the Head Coach of Bangladesh National Hockey team for the six-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy’ 2021 beginning here on December 14. Bangladesh Hockey Federation officially made this announcement on Monday (Nov 22). The 43-year-old Malaysian, who played 190 international matches for Malaysia, had been appointed the head coach of Bangladesh team twice earlier, first in the 2014-15 season and second in March 2018. BKSP Hockey Coach Zahid Hossain Raju has been made his deputy in the tournament. Also read: Premier Division Hockey: Mohammedan SC, Abahani Ltd win On completion of the ongoing Premier Division Hockey League on November 27, the training camp of Bangladesh national hockey team will begin at the BKSP. The six-nation Hero Asian Champions Trophy (Hockey) Dhaka’ 2021, organized by Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF), will be held on December 14-22 at Maulana Bhasani National Stadium in the capital. Six leading Asian teams—India, Malaysia, Korea, Japan, Pakistan and hosts Bangladesh—will meet each on league basis matches from December 14-19. In the league basis matches, Bangladesh will play Malaysia on December 14 at 6 pm, play against India on Dec 15 at 3:30 pm, Korea on Dec 16 at 8:30 pm, 18 at Japan on Dec 18 at 6 pm and Pakistan on Dec 19 at 8:30 pm. Also read: Super League of Premier Division Hockey begins Friday Later, four top teams will play in the semifinals on December 21 with the top team playing against the 4th ranked team while the 2nd ranked team will face the 3rd ranked team. The final match will be held on December 22.