The Bangladesh national football team left for Nepal after a delayed flight of over six hours to take part in two FIFA international friendly matches against the hosts at the Dasharath Stadium in Kathmandu on September 6 and 9.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, coach Javier Cabrera announced a 23-member squad for the friendlies without four of their foreign-based footballers 鈥� Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Fahamiedul Islam and Cuba Mitchell.
The team was originally scheduled to fly to Nepal from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:30pm; however, due to technical issues with their Bangladesh Biman flight, they ultimately departed at 7:48pm.
Canada-based Shamit earlier confirmed his unavailability for the matches, while Leicester City midfielder Hamza was in Cabrera鈥檚 plans.
But Hamza was expected to miss the Nepal tour following an injury that he suffered during a Championship League fixture recently.
Italy-based Fahamiedul and Bashundhara Kings鈥� new recruit UK-based Cuba Mitchell are currently engaged in the Under-23 team campaign in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Vietnam.
Regular national team members, goalkeepers Mehedi Hasan Srabon and forwards Sheikh Morsalin and Al Amin, and defender Shakil Ahad Topu are also competing in the AFC campaign in Vietnam.
Fortis FC defender Abdullah Omar is the only player who earned a maiden call-up to the team.
Meanwhile, thousands of Nepali football fans have called for a boycott of the two matches, citing that Dasharath Stadium is not of international standard due to negligence and poor management by the All Nepal Football Association, as reported by The Kathmandu Post on Tuesday.
鈥楾he AFC suspended Dasharath Stadium, which Nepal boasted as the country鈥檚 only stadium eligible for FIFA and AFC tournaments, for failing to meet the international standards,鈥� said the report.
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Squad
Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Pappu Hossain; Defenders: Tariq Kazi, Rahmat Mia, Topu Barman, Taj Uddin, Isa Faysal, Saad Uddin, Mehedi Hasan, Abdullah Omar; Midfielders: Jamal Bhuyan, Rakib Hossain, Sohel Rana (Jr), Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Sahriar Emon, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Papon Singh, Arif Hossain, Shah Quazem; Forwards: Mohammad Ibrahim, Sumon Reza.