Gerhard returns as BHF announce 26-man squad

The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) announced a 26-man preliminary squad on Monday for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, with the team handed a late entry after Pakistan's withdrawal.

The six-nation tournament will be held in Jalandhar and Mohali, India, from 27 October to 5 November. Bangladesh will begin their campaign on the opening day alongside hosts India, South Korea, Malaysia, China and Japan.

Bangladesh missed direct qualification after finishing seventh at the Asian Games in Japan but secured a place as a reserve team following Pakistan's withdrawal.

German coach Gerhard Peter Rach, whose previous contract ended after the Asian Games, has returned to lead the side. The selected players have been asked to report to Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium at 2:00pm on 14 October to begin their training camp. Bangladesh has a strong connection to the event, having previously hosted the sixth edition in Dhaka in December 2021.

Rach will be supported by team manager Rahul Kanti Roy, assistant manager Akil Siddique, assistant coach Shahidullah Titu, video analyst Md Imran Hasan and physiotherapist Touhidul Islam.

Squad: Biplob Kujur, Ashraful Haque Saad, Md Huzaifa Hossain, Amirul Islam, Rezaul Karim Babu, MM Mehrab Hasan Samin, Obaidul Hossain Joy, Khaled Mahmud Rakin, Puskar Khisa Mimo, Rakibul Hasan, Mahbub Hossain, Ashraful Islam, Farhad Ahmed, Roman Sarkar, Nuruzzaman Nayan, Rasel Mahmud, Md Sohanur Rahman, Md Abed Uddin, Md Taiyab Ali, Md Tanvir Rahman Siam, Md Abdullah, Md Mahmud Hasan, Al Nahian Shuvo, Md Arshad Hossain, Md Shahidur Rahman Saju and Md Deen Islam Emon.