Canada-born midfielder Shamit Shome has officially arrived in Dhaka, beginning an exciting new phase in his football career as he joins the Bangladesh national team. The 26-year-old was granted clearance by FIFA to play for Bangladesh on May 6 through the Players' Status Committee, and ever since, he had been eagerly waiting for the chance to don the red and green jersey. That long-awaited moment finally came to pass when Shome landed in the early hours of Tuesday, joining the national camp ahead of a series of friendlies and the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
While Shome is unlikely to feature in today’s friendly match against Bhutan due to the fatigue from his long journey, his arrival has already added a fresh spark to the team’s spirit. Speaking shortly after landing at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Shome expressed his excitement and eagerness to get started. “I’m really excited,” he said. “I can’t wait to meet my teammates. I’ve already had discussions with the coach about the playing style and my expected role in the team. At this moment, I just want to be with the squad. I believe we have a solid group, and I’m confident that good things lie ahead.”
Shome, who previously represented Canada at the international level, is now one of six expatriate players selected by head coach Javier Cabrera for the current squad. He joins the ranks of Hamza Choudhury (England), Jamal Bhuyan (Denmark), Quazem Shah (Canada), Fahmedul Islam (Italy), and Tariq Kazi (Finland). While Hamza made his debut earlier in March during the match against India, Jamal, Tariq, and Quazem had already linked up with the national team. Shome and Fahmedul are the most recent additions, adding further depth and diversity to the squad.
