The Bangladesh Football Federation dropped trio – Piyas Ahmed Nova, Tajuddin and Arif Hossain – for a crucial match against India as the national team left Dhaka for Shillong on Thursday morning.

The 36-member Bangladesh football team, including 24 footballers and 12 officials, left Dhaka to prepare for and play their crucial first-leg match of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers’ final round against India on 25 March at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

Ahead of their campaign, the men in red and green completed their preparation in two phases: in Dhaka from 28 February to 4 March and in Taif, Saudi Arabia, from 5 to 17 March.

Hamza Chodhury, who arrived here on 17 March, joined the team on 18 March and attended his first training session on 19 March.