A total of 17 players from the qualifying squad retained their places.

Jimmy was excluded from a 60-member preliminary of the AFC Cup’s squad in early February last year.

The long wait is finally over for Khaled Mahmud Rakin, who has earned his place in the Bangladesh national hockey team, becoming the third member of his family to achieve the feat after his father Abdur Razzak Sona Mia and elder brother Rasel Mahmud Jimmy, one of the country’s finest forwards.

Asked about the exclusion of Jimmy, the committee’s general secretary Lt Col (rtd) Riazul Hasan said, “We have been given the responsibility by emphasising development. If we talk about development, it consists of both the present and future.

In an unprecedented decision, Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) yesterday slapped suspensions of various tenures on 14 players and 10 officials, including veteran Mohammedan player Rasel Mahmud Jimmy and Mohammedan manager Ariful Haque Prince, following a meeting of the governing body on Saturday.

Mohammedan Sporting Club need a victory over title contenders Abahani Limited in today’s last match of Green Delta Premier Division Hockey League to regain the prestigious title but the league leaders are hesitant to play their last match over the issue of Rasel Mahmud Jimmy’s suspension.

Bangladesh romped into the final of the 5th Men's AHF Cup after thrashing Singapore 8-0 in the first semifinal today.

The past week was a busy one in the world of sports with the start of the Euro 2016, continuation of the Copa America Centenario and records set in local hockey.