Saudi U-23 football team departs for Romania camp ahead of Olympics

The Saudi U-23 team that beat Uganda 2-0 in Monday’s preparation match for the Tokyo Olympics. (Arriyadiyah)
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Updated 08 July 2021
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Saudi U-23 football team departs for Romania camp ahead of Olympics

  • Saad Al-Shehri’s team will play two friendly matches before heading for Tokyo 2020
  • In Tokyo, Saudi Arabia’s U-23 team take on the Ivory Coast on July 22, Germany on July 25, and reigning Olympic champions Brazil on July 28

RIYADH: The Saudi U-23 football team on Wednesday departed for Romania where coach Saad Al-Shehri will hold his sixth and final training camp in preparation for the Olympic Games in Japan later this month.

The final squad for Tokyo 2020 was announced earlier this week, and the team will now play two friendly matches against Romanian opposition on Saturday and Tuesday before leaving for Japan directly.

The last two matches for the U-23 team took place in Riyadh against Uganda and resulted in a 0-0 draw and a 2-0 win.

In Tokyo, Saudi Arabia’s U-23 team take on the Ivory Coast on July 22, Germany on July 25, and reigning Olympic champions Brazil on July 28.

The 22 players chosen for the Olympic squad are: Amin Bukhari, Mohammed Al-Rubaie, Zaid Al-Bawardi, Hamad Al-Yami, Khalifa Al-Dossary, Abdulilah Al-Omari, Saud Abdulhamid, Abdullah Hassoun, Abdulbasit Hindi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Nasser Al-Omran, Ali Al-Hassan, Salman Al-Faraj, Mukhtar Ali, Abdulrahman Ghareeb, Sami Al-Najei, Ayman Al-Khalif, Turki Al-Ammar, Khalid Al-Ghannam, Ayman Yahya, Salem Al-Dossary, and Abdullah Al-Hamdan.


Bangladesh board says ICC considering request to move their World Cup games from India

Updated 08 January 2026
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Bangladesh board says ICC considering request to move their World Cup games from India

  • Bangladesh cites security concerns amid strained ties with India as it seeks venue change for T20 World Cup matches
  • ICC says it is engaging with Bangladesh board and reviewing request as part of tournament security planning

NEW DELHI: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said on Wednesday that the sport’s global governing body, the International Cricket Council, is considering their request ​to move their Twenty20 World Cup matches out of India over safety concerns.

Amid fraught relations between the two countries, Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders said at the weekend that the country’s cricket board (BCCI) had told them to drop Bangladesh bowler Mustafizur Rahman.

Bangladesh’s interim government has since banned broadcasts of ‌the IPL, ‌and the BCB have refused ‌to ⁠play ​their World ‌Cup matches in India, which is co-hosting the February 7 to March 8 event with Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three World Cup matches in Kolkata next month.

“In its communication, the ICC has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the full and uninterrupted participation of the ⁠Bangladesh team in the tournament,” the BCB said.

“The ICC has conveyed ‌its willingness to work closely with ‍the BCB to address ‍the concerns raised and has assured that the ‍board’s inputs will be welcomed and duly considered as part of the detailed security planning for the event.”

The ICC and Indian board did not immediately reply to requests for comment ​from Reuters.

Some media reports have suggested the ICC, which is headed by former Indian board ⁠chief Jay Shah, had told Bangladesh they must play in India or forfeit the matches.

However, the BCB said reports of such an ultimatum were “completely false” and that it would work with the ICC to arrive at a solution that ensures their successful participation.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks between India and Bangladesh.

Hundreds protested near Bangladesh’s High Commission in New Delhi last month after a Hindu factory worker was beaten and set on ‌fire in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district over allegations he insulted the Prophet Muhammad.