Cavalry's Shamit Shome hoping to suit up for Bangladesh
Shamit Shome has banged the drum to play footie for his parents' home country of Bangladesh.
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And FIFA has answered that call, allowing the Cavalry FC star midfielder the opportunity to become a select player for the Asian nation.
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Shome is now eligible to represent the Bangladesh national team after soccer's governing body, FIFA, approved his application for a one-time change of association from Canada.
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The move comes hours before Shome and Cavalry (1W-2L-1D) play Saturday against host — and unbeaten — HFX Wanderers FC (3-0-2) in Halifax (3:30 p.m., TSN5, OneSoccer.ca).
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Shome, born in Edmonton to Bangladeshi parents, represented Canada at several youth levels before earning two senior caps in 2020.
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Because of his previous association with the country of his birth, he was required to apply for a one-time switch to be eligible to join the Bangladesh national team at the international level.
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'I was raised with Begali culture, and I'm very excited by the chance to represent Bangladesh, the birth country of my parents and a country I hold very close to heart,' Shome said. 'I will forever be grateful for the opportunities I received within the Canadian men's national team program, from the under-18 level to the senior level. I feel now it sht right time to test myself with Bagnladesh at an international level and within the Asian Football Confederation.'
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Shome is eligible to be sleected by Bangladesh during the upcoming FIFA international window, which will include a 2027 Asia Cup qualifying match against Singapore on June 10 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
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