Bangladesh to play four-nation tournament in SL

Bangladesh national football team will travel to Sri Lanka next month to participate in the four-nation Mahinda Rajapaksa Trophy, starting from November 8.

Bangladesh will play their first match against Seychelles on the opening day. The other two teams are Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Bangladesh will then face Maldives on November 11 before taking on hosts Sri Lanka on November 14.

All the matches of the tournament will be held at the Race Course International Stadium in Colombo.

The Bangladesh team returned from the recently concluded SAFF Championship in Maldives on Sunday where they missed out on the final once again as they finished fourth with five points from four games. Their only win in the tournament came against Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh needed only a win in their final match against Nepal in the SAFF Championship, but a controversial penalty for Nepal saw Bangladesh leave with a draw, leading to them being knocked out.

Bangladesh Football Federation now have to decide who will coach the side in the upcoming four-nation tournament. Bashundhara Kings coach Oscar Bruzon was in charge during the SAFF Championship and BFF want him to continue. But according to reports, Bashundhara are unwilling to let go of the Spaniard as by the time the tournament will begin in Sri Lanka, the club will begin their pre-season ahead of the upcoming season.

Bruzon, in an interview with The Business Post, had said that Kings and BFF had to sort the situation out.

“There will come a time to discuss what is better for all parties. I am grateful to BFF President and Bashundhara Kings President for considering me as a good option to take over the national team for the SAFF tournament,” the Spaniard said.