Bangladesh booters prepare with full squad in Jakarta

Bangladesh head coach Thomas Dooley finally had his full squad at his disposal on Tuesday as the national team held its first training session together in Jakarta ahead of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup.

The final arrivals were midfielder Shamit Shome and Sohel Rana, who joined the squad after reaching Jakarta on Tuesday morning. England-based winger Farhaan Ali Wahid had arrived on Monday night.

Nineteen-year-old Farhaan, who is on loan from Fulham at fifth-tier English club Boreham Wood, is among the overseas-based players in Dooley's squad.

Shamit, who reached the team hotel at around 11am local time, said he was excited to be back with the national side and eager to get on the pitch.

"It feels good to join everyone. We are playing in a big competition and hopefully we can do very well. I am confident that we can," Shamit said in a video message released by the Bangladesh Football Federation.

The midfielder described the arrival of Dooley and a reshaped squad as the beginning of a new chapter for Bangladesh football.

"A new journey is starting with a new team and a new coach. With everything that has happened over the last two or three months, and the ASEAN Cup and SAFF Championship ahead, it is a very exciting time for Bangladesh football and for me. I am looking forward to it and it feels good to be back," he said.

Bangladesh arrived in Jakarta early Sunday before Hamza Choudhury joined the squad on Monday.

Dooley's side will begin their Group A campaign against Malaysia on Friday at the 77,000-capacity Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. Singapore and hosts Indonesia are the other group opponents.

All three opponents are ranked higher than Bangladesh by FIFA, setting up a demanding test for Dooley's side from the outset.