The encounter brought together two sides with contrasting ambitions -- Sheffield chasing a return to the Premier League, and Plymouth battling to avoid relegation.

The 26-year-old Hamza, who recently made his debut for Bangladesh in their AFC Cup fixture against India in Shillong, has been a regular starter for the Blades.

Jamal Bhuiyan, the most-capped player in Bangladesh’s history, is slowly becoming a peripheral figure in the team despite being the captain. To know his views on this issue and his overall plans in football, The Daily Star's Anisur Rahman and Atique Anam caught up with the Denmark-born midfielder. Following are the excerpts of the interview.

The 27-year-old, currently a regular for Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League, was previously capped twice in friendlies for the Canada senior team in 2020.

Bangladesh star Hamza Choudhury's home debut at the National Stadium is becoming a reality as officials from Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) visited the venue today to assess the ongoing renovation progress.

Fresh off their hard-fought goalless draw against India in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, Bangladesh’s national footballers took a break from the grind to spread festive cheer, extending Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to fans worldwide.

It wasn’t just his skills on the pitch that won hearts—it was his character.

Hamza Choudhury’s arrival sparked enthusiasm and interest in football in Bangladesh like never seen before.

Cabrera hails debutant's impact

Bangladesh had to be satisfied with a draw after fluffing a host of opportunities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against India on Tuesday.

Hamza Choudhury was named in the starting XI for Bangladesh in their AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against India, with regular captain Jamal Bhuiyan kept on the bench.

Most people these days will not believe me when I tell them that there was once a time when us Bangladeshis had very strong emotions related to football and our footballers. We did not have English hooligans, but each and every locality was somewhat divided between an epic rivalry of Mohammedan versus Abahani.

The match kicks off at 7:30 pm (Bangladesh time) at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, Meghalaya, and will be broadcast live on T Sports.

Even though there is a big gulf in ranking as well as performances between Bangladesh and India, the matches involving the two neighbours have over the years produced some thrilling contests.

Hamza’s true impact will not be measured in goals or assists but in his ability to shape the team’s rhythm, structure, and control of the game.

Bangladesh centre-back Tapu Barman said his side would have to be wary about India’s set-piece prowess ahead of the much-anticipated Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture between the sides in Shillong on March 25. 

According to Transfermarkt, the total market value of the Bangladesh squad stands at a staggering $8.62 million -- leaving India trailing with a valuation of $6.064 million.

Set to take place on March 25 in Shillong, the clash between the two teams is not just another qualifier; it is a battle between a rejuvenated Bangladeshi side and the man who has haunted them time and again.

When Bangladesh football team captain Jamal Bhuiyan told the press on Thursday, “It feels our [Lionel] Messi is here,” about the arrival of Hamza Choudhury, he wasn’t exaggerating.

As Bangladesh gear up for their crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against India, captain Jamal Bhuiyan likened the excitement surrounding Hamza Choudhury’s homecoming to that of a global superstar.