Cabrera hails Hamza's leadership quality

Bangladesh head coach Javier Cabrera has praised the leadership depth within his squad, highlighting the presence of multiple players capable of guiding the team both on and off the pitch.

The Spaniard has rotated the captain's armband in recent matches, with veteran centre-back Topu Barman and midfielder Sohel Rana among those given the responsibility. With long-time skipper Jamal Bhuyan playing a reduced role this year and Topu not fully fit, Cabrera handed the armband to Sohel in Thursday's Asian Cup Qualifier against Hong Kong in Dhaka.

However, Sohel was substituted early in the second half after Bangladesh surrendered a 1-0 lead and fell behind 2-1. The armband then passed to Jamal, who came off the bench.

Speaking during a training session in Hong Kong on Sunday, ahead of Tuesday's return leg, Cabrera addressed the rotating captaincy and the leadership within the squad.

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"We are very lucky to have captains like Jamal, Topu, Sohel. All of them are captains, and we are lucky to have Hamza (Choudhury) as one of the leaders," said the 41-year-old.

Since making his debut for Bangladesh against India in March, Leicester City midfielder Hamza has played the full 90 minutes in all four matches – three competitive and one friendly. He has already made a significant impact, scoring two goals while contributing heavily in both attack and defence.

Former national team captain Aminul Haque recently suggested that Hamza should be named captain, citing his influence on the field. The same sentiment has gained traction among fans on social media.

When asked about the possibility of Hamza taking on the captaincy, Cabrera responded diplomatically.

"As I always said, Hamza, for us, is one of the captains," he said. "He is a leader on the pitch and off the pitch -- a player that is guiding his teammates from the beginning."