Mile starts ahead of Rupna as Bangladesh take on nine-time champions China

Sydney’s CommBank Stadium is set to witness a historic moment on Tuesday as the Bangladesh women’s national football team step onto the pitch for their first ever AFC Women’s Asian Cup match, taking on nine-time champions China, marking a landmark occasion for the nation’s football.

In a surprising decision, head coach Peter James Butler has left out Bangladesh’s first-choice goalkeeper Rupna Chakma from the starting XI. Instead, Mile Akter has been handed the gloves. While Mile has featured for the national team before, she has not started regularly in recent times. Team sources suggest the decision was not injury-related; rather, Butler may have opted for Mile due to height considerations against a physically strong Chinese side.

Apart from the change in goal, there are no major surprises in the lineup. Captain Afeida Khandaker leads the defense, joined by Shamsunnahar, Kohati Kisku, Nabiran Khatun and Sheuli Azim. The midfield features Maria Manda, Ritu Porna Chakma, Umhela Marma and Monika Chakma, while Shamsunnahar Jr leads the line as the lone forward. On paper, Bangladesh appear set up in a 5-4-1 formation, though the exact tactical approach will become clearer once the match begins.

The match officials are from Thailand, with Pansa serving as the referee and fellow Thai officials assisting her. The tournament also features VAR technology, meaning Bangladesh will experience video assistant refereeing for the first time in a major competition.

Bangladesh Starting XI:

Mile Akter (GK), Afeida Khandaker, Sheuli Azim, Shamsunnahar, Nabiran Khatun, Kohati Kisku, Umhela Marma, Maria Manda, Ritu Porna Chakma, Monika Chakma and Shamsunnahar Jr