Veteran forward Sabina Khatun and four other players who rebelled against coach Peter Butler were left out as the Englishman announced a 23-member Bangladesh women鈥檚 national team squad for the forthcoming tri-nation friendly series in Jordan on Sunday.
Bangladesh will face Indonesia and hosts Jordan at the Kings Abdulla Stadium in Amman on May 31 and June 3, respectively. The matches are as part of their preparation for the AFC Women鈥檚 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers campaign in Myanmar.
Though Butler ignored Sabina, Masura Parvin, Sanjida Akter, Krishna Rani Sarkar and Matsushima Sumaiya, he included nine players who also rebelled against him.
The nine rebel footballers who made the cut are Rupna Chakma, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar (sr), Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Ritu Porna Chakma, Tahura Khatun (jr) and Mosammat Sagorika.
Sabina, Bangladesh鈥檚 leading scorer in international football with 36 goals and captain of the SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship winning teams in 2022 and 2024, led the revolt in early February by boycotting the national camp under Butler due to a split that developed between the players and the Englishman during the SAFF Women鈥檚 Championship in October 2024.
As a result, the 18 rebellious players missed the tour to the UAE for two international friendlies in late February until the feud was resolved when they agreed to return to camp in April.
In the meantime, Sabina and nine others joined the National Women鈥檚 League in Bhutan, while the other eight joined the camp.
Later on May 15, Butler called five 鈥� Rituporna Chakma, Rupna Chakma, Shamshunnahar (sr), Monika Chakma, and Maria Manda 鈥� to return home and join the camp before the Jordan tour.
Butler picked up 11 players from the previous squad that toured the UAE, while Umehla Marma, Shanti Mardi, and Fardosi Akter Shonale were the three new faces in the tri-nation series squad.
When asked about the exclusion of the five footballers, Butler said that it was now time to be practical rather than emotional.
鈥業 wouldn鈥檛 call them rebel players鈥� You know, footballers sounds better鈥� I just looked at the group that we have because we鈥檝e got a very young team, and I just felt that it was very, very important to actually add a little bit of experience and strength,鈥� Butler said during a press conference at the BFF House.
鈥楪oing to your second question (about), Sabine and Masura鈥� Listen, I think Sabina鈥檚 time is coming to a close, if I鈥檓 being honest with you鈥� Being completely practical, I think time has come to an end. I think you (Sabina) have got to move on, playing in a league such as Bhutan鈥� As for Masura, I think she is out of shape, if I鈥檓 being brutally honest,鈥� said the Englishman.
The 30-member Bangladesh team, including seven officials, is scheduled to leave for Jordan today.聽
Squad
Goalkeepers: Rupna Chakma, Meghla Rani Roy, Fardosi Akter Shonale; Defenders: Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar (sr), Afeida Khandakar (Captain), Mst Joynob Bibi Rita; Midfielders: Monika Chakma, Maria Manda, Munki Akhter, Sapna Rani, Kohati Kisku, Halima Akther, Shanti Mardi; Forwards: Ritu Porna Chakma, Tohura Khatun, Shamsunnahar (jr), Sagorika, Shaheda Akter Ripa, Sauravi Akanda Prity, Sultana, Nabiran Khatun, Umehla Marma.