As Bangladesh men's hockey team begin their preparations for the Asian Games hockey qualification tournament, much of the attention inside the national camp has centred on one name, Amirul Islam.
The Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) has announced a 37-member preliminary squad and opened the national camp on Thursday at the Maulana Bhashani National Hockey Stadium under head coach Ashiquzzaman.
While the squad reflects a balance of experience and youth, the emergence of Amirul Islam has added a fresh sense of anticipation ahead of the crucial qualifiers.
From the very first day of camp, fitness has been placed at the heart of preparations. Players were subjected to the Cooper Test at the National Stadium, Dhaka.
Everyone know that Amirul is a junior star knocking on the senior door. Amirul Islam arrives at the senior camp with an extraordinary pedigree from the junior ranks. The young forward was Bangladesh's standout performer at the recent FIH Men's Junior Hockey World Cup in Tamil Nadu, India, where the country made its first-ever appearance at the global tournament.
Amirul finished as the tournament's top scorer, netting a remarkable 18 goals in just six matches. The penalty-corner specialist registered five hat-tricks and played a decisive role in several landmark performances. He scored five goals in Bangladesh's emphatic 13-0 victory over Oman, struck a hat-trick in a 3-3 draw against South Korea and added another hat-trick in a dramatic 5-4 win over Austria.
Such performances have firmly placed him on the radar of the senior national selectors, with many within the hockey fraternity viewing him as one of the most exciting attacking prospects Bangladesh have produced in recent years.
Opportunity Meets Expectation
Speaking at the camp, Amirul described his call-up as both an honour and a challenge. He said, "It feels very good to be training with everyone at the national camp."
"There are many experienced players here, and getting into the main national team is not easy. I want to give my best."
Looking ahead to the qualifiers, Amirul acknowledged the scale of the task. He said, "I think Oman and Chinese Taipei will be our main opponents. I believe we can perform well in the qualifiers, reach the main round and bring honour to the country."
The coaching staff are believed to be closely assessing how Amirul's pace, aggressive mindset and penalty-corner efficiency translate to the senior international level, qualities that could prove decisive in tightly contested qualification matches.
While Amirul's rise has captured headlines, team officials are keen to ensure that youth is supported by experience. In attack, Pushkar Khisa Mimo remains a key figure, while the midfield and defensive units are anchored by seasoned campaigners such as Naim Uddin, Mahbub Hossain and Mainul Islam Kaushik. The combination is deliberate. The management believe that experienced game control, paired with youthful intensity, can help Bangladesh narrow the ranking gap they face against stronger Asian opponents.
Qualifiers in Muscat
The Asian Games hockey qualification tournament will be held in Muscat, Oman, from 25 March to 4 April. According to the latest Asian Hockey Federation rankings, Bangladesh are currently ninth in Asia and may face higher-ranked sides such as South Korea, Pakistan, China and hosts Oman.
