Published : 24 Oct 2026 05:58 PM
US-based forward Ronan Sullivan and England-based Mahe Khan, neither of whom has played for the senior national team, were named on Saturday in Bangladesh’s 28-member preliminary squad for the SAFF Championship.
The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) announced the squad for the tournament, which will be held at the National Stadium in Dhaka from November 5 to 17.
Ronan and Mahe have both played for Bangladesh’s under-20 side. Mahe plays for Moulton FC in the ninth tier of English football. Ronan plays college football in the United States for the Saint Joseph’s Hawks.
Ronan was part of the Bangladesh team that won the SAFF U-20 Championship earlier this year, and his performances there caught the attention of national team head coach Thomas Dooley. His twin brother, Declan Sullivan, also played in that tournament but has not been picked for the SAFF squad.
Defenders Topu Barman and Bishwanath Ghosh are back after missing the FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia from September 21 to October 6. Forward Foysal Ahmed Fahim, who missed the ASEAN Cup through injury, has also been included.
Shakil Ahad Topu, Monjurur Rahman Manik and Shahriar Emon, who were in the final ASEAN Cup squad, have been left out. Goalkeepers Mohammad Asif and Ishaque Akando will train with the squad but are not among the 28.
Bangladesh are in Group A with Bhutan and Sri Lanka, while India, Pakistan and the Maldives make up Group B in the six-team tournament. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals on November 14, and the final is on November 17.
Squad: Goalkeepers: Mitul Marma, Sujon Hossain, Mehedi Hasan Srabon. Defenders: Topu Barman, Bishwanath Ghosh, Saad Uddin, Zidane Yousuf, Rahmat Mia, Isa Faysal, Tariq Kazi, Zayyan Ahmed. Midfielders: Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Mohammad Ridoy, Hamza Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Quazem Shah, Jamal Bhuyan, Sheikh Morsalin. Forwards: Farhaan Ali, Rakib Hossain, Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Fahamedul Islam, Mohammad Ibrahim, Minhazul Karim, Ronan Sullivan, Mahe Khan, Shuki Itofusa, reports UNB.