Sabina and co ignored as Butler calls five from Bhutan league to national camp

Ten Bangladeshi footballers currently playing in Bhutan's women's league were under speculation over their national team fate.

That speculation ended on 17 May, when five of them – Rituporna Chakma, Rupna Chakma, Shamshunnahar, Monika Chakma, and Maria Manda – returned to Dhaka to join the Bangladesh national camp ahead of a tri-nation tournament in Jordan later this month.

They were called up by head coach Peter Butler as part of preparations for the AFC Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers in Myanmar this June. Their clubs – Transport United, Paro FC, and Thimphu FC – released them after receiving letters from the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF).

However, notable absentees from the call-up list include four of the country's most senior players: Sabina Khatun, Masura Parvin, Sanjida Akter, and Krishna Rani Sarkar. Japanese-origin footballer Matsushima Sumaiya, who was also playing in Bhutan, was left out as well.

This decision has raised eyebrows in the footballing community. All five players who were left out had been involved in a standoff with Butler earlier this year. In March, 18 footballers, including Sabina and Masura, boycotted training sessions under the British coach and refused to join the UAE tour. Though the dispute seemed to be resolved after several meetings between players and officials, and both sides publicly agreed to move on, Butler's recent selections suggest the tensions are far from buried.

Sabina and her teammates have performed well in Bhutan. On 15 May, she scored nine goals and was named player of the match as Paro FC crushed their opponents 28-0. Monika netted seven, Sumaiya five, and Rituporna four. Earlier, Krishna had also been named player of the match after scoring twice in an 8-0 win for Transport United. Despite this, their recent form appears to have had little bearing on Butler's choices.

Sources within the BFF believe the selection reflects not performance but politics. Sabina and Masura reportedly led the earlier rebellion against Butler's methods, while Sumaiya had written directly to the BFF president during the dispute. Sanjida and Krishna were close allies in the protest.

Butler and the BFF have not offered any explanation for the exclusion of these players. The lack of clarity, especially in the context of the upcoming qualifiers, has led to growing discussions about whether internal disputes are affecting team building at a crucial juncture.