Sports Desk:

Bangladesh will face Bhutan in a FIFA friendly on June 4 before meeting Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10, both in Dhaka.

Expatriates Shamit Shome and Fahamedul Islam have been included in the preliminary 26-man squad of Bangladesh’s next two home matches against Bhutan and Singapore.

The men in red and green will face Bhutan in a FIFA friendly on June 4 before meeting Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on June 10.

Both matches will be held at the capital’s newly renovated National Stadium.

Shamit and Fahamedul are among the new additions after the previous away match against India held on March 26.

With the experience of playing for Canada’s senior and age-group national team, Shamit is expected to bring more strength in Bangladesh midfield alongside Hamza Choudhury.

Hamza already made his Bangladesh debut in the India clash.

He is now close to making his home debut against Bhutan or Singapore.

While it is the first time for Shamit getting national team call after agreeing to represent the red and green in April, Fahamedul previously got a call in the preliminary squad for the India tie but excluded from the final squad.

Premier League champions Mohammedan’s defender Jahid Hasan Shanto is the other fresh face in the preliminary squad.

SQUAD

GOALKEEPERS: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon

DEFENDERS: Shakil Ahad Topu, Jahid Hasan Shanto, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Taj Uddin, Tariq Kazi, Topu Barman, Saad Uddin

MIDFIELDERS: Mohammad Ridoy, Syed Shah Quazem Kirmanee, Sohel Rana, Mujibur Rahman Jony, Sheikh Morsalin, Jamal Bhuiyan, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome

FORWARDS: Fahamedul Islam, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Rakib Hossain, Emon Shahriar, Mohammad Ibrahim, Al Amin, Sumon Reza