Bangladesh embrace adversity in Shillong with renewed determination

Bangladesh's preparations for their crucial Asian Cup qualifier against India on 25 March have been far from smooth, with disrupted schedules, freezing temperatures, and a lack of access to a grass pitch. Yet, instead of dampening spirits, the challenges have only strengthened the team's resolve.

Originally set to train at 6 pm, the session was delayed to 7:30 pm as India had booked the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium at the same time. The late start meant hours of waiting at the hotel, and by the time the team arrived at Shillong Sports Association Stadium, the cold had intensified, with only one floodlight switched on.

Wasting no time, head coach Javier Cabrera got straight to work. Players warmed up in midfield as the rest of the floodlights slowly came on. Despite still being restricted to turf training, the squad remained focused.

Assistant coach Hasan Al Mamun admitted they had hoped for a grass pitch but knew such obstacles were possible. "We asked for a grass pitch, but for whatever reason, we didn't get it. There's no point in worrying. We knew coming here that we might face difficulties, so we were mentally prepared," he said.

Despite the setbacks, the team found a moment of levity before training. In a passing drill disguised as a game, Hamza was playfully chased down by Topu, Jamal, and Hridoy, briefly lifting the tension from a challenging day.

The cold, however, remained a factor, with players like Sadiuddin and Sohel Rana visibly struggling. Speaking to the media, right-back Sadiuddin admitted, "It's quite cold here."

Cabrera limited media access to 15 minutes, but even in that short time, the team's determination was clear. "This time, we'll do it," said Sadiuddin, a statement carrying the weight of past disappointments.

In 2019, Bangladesh had come agonisingly close to beating India in Salt Lake, only to concede late in a 1-1 draw.