3 dropped hours before Singapore match

Ahead of their crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier, Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has trimmed his squad to 23 players, cutting three from the original 26-man training camp. 

The decision came just hours before Tuesday evening's clash against Singapore at the National Stadium.

According to a team source, one of the notable omissions is dependable defender Isa Faisal. He did not feature in the previous match against Bhutan, where Cabrera used 17 players, and now finds himself excluded from the final squad altogether — a somewhat surprising move given his established role in the team. His absence paves the way for full-backs Sad Uddin and Taj Uddin Ahmed to likely secure starting spots.

Joining Isa Faisal on the sidelines are forward Mohammad Ibrahim and midfielder Mojibur Rahman Jony. Jony, long regarded as one of Cabrera’s preferred players, also failed to make the final cut for this key fixture.

As of the time of reporting, coach Cabrera had yet to announce his starting XI for tonight’s match, set to kick off at 7:00 PM local time. His decision to drop Isa Faisal has raised eyebrows among fans and observers, and with Cabrera’s reputation for tactical flexibility, surprises in formation and player selection for the starting lineup remain very possible.