56 hockey players sans Jimmy turn up for fitness tests

As many as 56 players turned up to the fitness tests today at the National Stadium ahead of Bangladesh national hockey team's preparation camp for April's AHF Cup in Indonesia.

Bangladesh Hockey Federation called on a total of 63 players bar experienced campaigner Rasel Mahmud Jimmy for the cooper test and among those that turned up, three failed the fitness test which was conducted by head coach Mamun Ur Rashid at National Stadium in Paltan in the early morning.

"Of 63 players, seven players including national players Shafiul Alam Shishir and three U-21 national team's players - Azizar Rahman and Asaduzzaman Chand and Saddam Khan did not turn up for different reasons while only three out of 56 players failed to prove their fitness but they have still been kept in the squad," Mamun Ur Rashid told The Daily Star today.

Mamun also informed that Rasel Mahmud Jimmy was not called on for the fitness training.

The players, who turned up to the cooper test, were divided into four groups to play two practice matches at Maulana Bhasani national Stadium and four more matches will be held tomorrow before 42 players are selected for the preliminary squad, the former national team player informed.

"After four trial matches which are to be played tomorrow, we will select 42 players who will report to the team management on Feb 24 as the training will get underway the next day," said the head coach.

The AHF Cup is scheduled to take place in Jakarta, Indonesia from April 17 to 25.