Bishwanath ruled out of FIFA ASEAN Cup after fresh injury setback

Bangladesh defender Bishwanath Ghosh has been ruled out of the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia after sustaining a hamstring injury.

The 27-year-old right-back, who can also operate as a center-back, first felt pain in his hamstring on Thursday. Following an ultrasound test at Comfort Hospital on Saturday, doctors advised a recovery period of three to four weeks, forcing him to withdraw from the national team camp.

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“I left the camp today due to a hamstring injury,” Bishwanath told The Daily Star on Monday. “According to the physio and doctors, I need three and a half to four weeks to fully recover and return to the pitch.”

His injury means he will miss the ASEAN Cup, scheduled to run from September 25 to October 5. The Bangladesh squad is set to depart for Indonesia on September 19, though head coach Thomas Dooley has yet to trim his current 29-man preliminary training squad down to the final 23.

The timing is a bitter blow for Bishwanath, who had recently returned to the national setup after a nearly 18-month absence. He was previously sidelined by an injury sustained during a friendly against Bhutan at the Bashundhara Kings Arena in September 2024.

Following his lengthy rehabilitation, Bishwanath had been carefully eased back into international action. He played 22 minutes in a friendly against Vietnam, followed by 18 minutes in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore, and most recently managed 26 minutes in a July friendly against San Marino.

“When I initially left the camp, I didn't feel too bad, but I was deeply disappointed after seeing the photos of the muscle tear in my medical report,” Bishwanath said, though he philosophically noted that injuries are simply an inevitable part of a footballer's career.