No chance for Fahamedul to return to the squad now: Coach Cabrera

As football fans continued to protest outside the team‍‍`s hotel, demanding the return of Fahamedul Islam to the squad for the crucial match against India, Coach Javier Cabrera made a firm statement, ruling out any possibility of a recall for the player. 

Despite the growing pressure from supporters and former players questioning the decision, Cabrera remained resolute, declaring that Fahamedul would not be making a comeback for the upcoming match.

Protests had sparked after Fahamedul was dropped from the squad the previous day. 

Several fan groups, including the Ultras, voiced their discontent, arguing that the decision to exclude the talented footballer was unfair. 

Adding to the tension, the Ministry of Youth and Sports announced late last night that Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, an advisor to the ministry, would be meeting with BFF (Bangladesh Football Federation) president Tabith Awal to discuss Fahamedul’s exclusion.

However, during a press conference held earlier today at a hotel in Dhaka, when asked directly about Fahamedul‍‍`s situation, Cabrera responded unequivocally,

“No, there’s no chance for him to return to the squad now.” 

Despite the coach‍‍`s firm stance, he acknowledged Fahamedul’s potential and future in Bangladesh football, adding, 

"He is a talented footballer. Even before I took him into the squad, I had observed a lot. I’ll say it again, he needs more time. In the future, he will be capable of playing for the national team."

The national team is set to face India in a highly anticipated Asian Cup Qualifier on March 25 in Shillong. 

The squad will hold their final practice session this evening at Kings Arena before heading off to Shillong tomorrow. 

Jamal Bhuyan and Hamza, along with their teammates, are gearing up for what promises to be a challenging match against their regional rivals.

Speaking about the preparations, Coach Cabrera expressed his satisfaction with the two-week training camp held in Saudi Arabia. 

“Our focus is now on the India match. We are thinking about how to handle them. The camp in Saudi Arabia was positive for us, and everyone is fairly prepared to take on the challenge of India,” he said confidently.

Meanwhile, the Indian football team is also preparing for the clash. They are set to play a friendly match against the Maldives tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Shillong‍‍`s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Indian Coach Manolo Marquez described the friendly as an important warm-up for the upcoming qualifier, stating, 

"This is a preparation match for us to qualify for the Asian Cup. We want to win. Before the Bangladesh match, we want to organize our best team by playing this game."

With both teams intensifying their preparations, all eyes are now on the much-anticipated India-Bangladesh clash, which will play a crucial role in determining each team’s chances in the Asian Cup qualifiers.