Bangladesh’s domestic competitions are not producing forwards who steal the spotlight in big matches. Goals in lopsided fixtures, played in front of empty stands, do little to prepare players for the intensity of international football.

After leading Bashundhara Kings to Federation Cup title defence as captain, central defender -- even becoming the joint-top scorer -- Tapu Barman was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Bangladesh centre-back Tapu Barman said his side would have to be wary about India’s set-piece prowess ahead of the much-anticipated Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture between the sides in Shillong on March 25. 

National team forward Mohammad Ibrahim said all the players are eager for a place in the starting eleven, particularly because the opposition is India, as the men in red and green continue to ramp up preparations in training for their Asian Cup Qualifiers match on March 25 against their neighbours.  

Before going for a two-week training camp in Saudi Arabia ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers against Palestine, Bangladesh coach Javier Cabrera had repeatedly said that his team needed to put in more than they did against Lebanon in a 1-1 draw in November last year.

Having trained in Saudi Arabia for more than two weeks, the men in red and green reached Kuwait and had their first training session on Monday in the country ahead of the Palestine tie.

It has not been yet decided whether their suspensions will be reduced.

Forward Morsalin was fined Tk one lakh, while defender Tapu was suspended till December 31, 2023, along with a monetary fine of Tk one lakh.

This achievement is the outcome of hard work, said defender Tapu Barman.

Seychelles coach Neville Both is wary of challenge posed by Bangladesh’s two centre-backs – Tapu Barman and Tariq Kazi – and midfielder Jamal Bhuiyan ahead of the second FIFA friendly match in Sylhet on Tuesday.

The defenders are doing the job of the forwards by scoring goals for the men in red and green, even though the forwards are statistically still ahead of defenders in terms of scoring international goals.

Although Bangaldesh could not win a single match in the Asian Cup Qualifiers last June, the charges of Spanish coach Javier Cabrera showed some signs of improvement with competitive displays against highly-ranked Bahrain, Turkmenistan and Malaysia despite the absence of key players.

A late header from defender Tapu Barman powered Bangladesh to a hard fought 1-0 win over Pakistan in a Group A encounter of the SAFF Suzuki Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.