The practice matches of the national team were pushed back by two weeks due to a conflict in schedule of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation which has forced the
Bangladesh Hockey Federation to consider a different opponent.
The Food Corporation of India will instead arrive in the second week of August to take part in four friendly matches on August 13, 14, 16 and 17.
‘We have cancelled the offer of friendly matches of the ONGC due to a time clash. The national players are expected to enjoy a four-day long Eid holiday beginning from August 6 while the ONGC desired to come to Bangladesh after August 2,’ said Mamunur Rashid, member of the BHF’s selection committee.
The ONGC were originally scheduled to arrive today and since they altered their plans, the BHF had no other option but to confirm another team, the FCI as the Bangladesh national hockey team’s friendly opponents ahead of next month’s Asia Cup.
The FCI, one among ten teams of the Indian national hockey league, will come to Bangladesh on August 12.
After the conclusion of the four practice matches, the national team will depart for Malaysia on August 20 to participate in the eighth edition of the Asia Cup.
Before the tournament proper gets underway on August 24, Bangladesh are also scheduled to play two warm-up matches against hosts Malaysia and Pakistan.
-With New Age input
