Bangladesh national football team's newly appointed head coach Thomas Dooley has placed his faith in experienced campaigners for his first international assignment, naming a final 23-member squad for the FIFA international friendly against San Marino on June 5.

The Bangladesh team is scheduled to leave for San Marino on Sunday.

Among the notable inclusions is experienced goalkeeper Anisur Rahman Zico, who returns to the national squad after a 19-month absence. Zico last played for Bangladesh in an international friendly against Afghanistan in September 2024. Although he remained with the squad for the following four international matches until November 2024, he did not get any playing time.

Apart from Zico, defenders Isa Faisal and Tajuddin, along with winger Rafiqul Islam, have also earned recalls to the final squad.

Meanwhile, Rahmat Mia, Abdullah Omar, Shakil Hossain, Manjurur Rahman Manik, Md Ibrahim, Mirajul Islam and Minhazul Karim Swadhin were dropped from the preliminary squad as Dooley trimmed his selection ahead of the San Marino encounter.

Dooley, however, tried to explain the process behind his selection. 

"There are maybe players who didn't have a great training session and maybe, you know, we didn't pick them right away because, you know, they didn't stand out," the American said.

"So it takes time and the good thing is that we have a game right away where we can actually throw the players in, and then when we come back, we have another two months before we have the next game," he added. 

Squad:

Goalkeepers (GK): Mitul Marma, Md Sujon Hossain, Anisur Rahman.

Defenders (DF): Tariq Kazi, Topu Barman, Zayyan Ahmed, Md Shakil Ahad Topu, Bishwanath Ghosh, Md Saad Uddin, Md Taj Uddin, Md Isa Faysal.

Midfielders (MF): Jamal Bhuyan, Md Sohel Rana, Sohel Rana, Md Ridoy, Shekh Morsalin, Hamza Dewan Choudhury, Shamit Shome, Syed Quazem Kirmanee Shah.

Forwards (FW): Fahamedul Islam, Md Sahariar Emon, Md Foysal Ahmed Fahim, Md Rafiqul Islam.