The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

An 18-member Bangladesh national Hockey team, led by Issa Miah, leaves for India today (Monday) to take part in the 7th Men's Asia Cup Hockey to be held in Chennai from August 31 to September 9.

Bangladesh will play their first group match against Thailand on Aug 31, the 2nd against China on September 1, the 3rd against Sri Lanka on Sept 3, the 4th against India on Sept 4, and the 5th and last group match against Korea on Sept 6.

The final match of the competition will be held on Sept 9.

Bangladesh have been placed in Pool B of the 11-team Asia Cup along with Korea, India, China, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The other five teams, grouped in Pool A, are Pakistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and hosts Malaysia.

"We want to win at least two matches against Thailand and Sri Lanka," national hockey coach Mahbub Harun said while talking to UNB at the practice ground on Sunday.

He further said that they want to finish 6th in the meet as against the 8th in the last Asia Cup.

Bangladesh will play only one practice match against Pakistan on Tuesday (Aug 28) before the tournament starts.

Bangladesh national team made their final practice under the supervision of coach Mahbub Harun at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium this (Sunday) afternoon.

Squad: Issa Miah (captain), Zahid Hossain (vice captain), Mahbub Ullah Shakil, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Yamin Hossain, Shamsuddin Tuhin, Mustafizur Rahman Dinar, Imran Hossain Pintu, Tabib A Noor, Khandaker Hasan Ahmed, Shahidullah Titu, Qamruzzaman Rana, Rahul Kanti Roy, Mosharraf Hossain Kuti, Russell Mahmud Jimmy, Zahidul Islam Rajon, Zahid Bin Talib Shuvo and Iqbal Nader Prince.