In a national team ranked 185th in the world, the arrival of a midfielder with Premier League experience doesn't merely represent a symbolic gesture -- it marks a fundamental reorientation of the team's tactical approach and identity. Hamza Choudhury's integration into the Bangladesh national team isn't about star power or reputation; it's about the system-wide evolution his presence enables.

Hamza is not a traditional midfielder, nor is he merely a destroyer of opposition attacks. He occupies a hybrid role -- part defensive anchor, part deep-lying playmaker.

In early training sessions -- ahead of Bangladesh's Asian Cup qualifiers fixture against India in Shillong on March 25 -- he has displayed a keen understanding of responsibilities that transcend simple defensive duties. Hamza appears to be adept at reading the game, identifying probable passing lanes, stepping into space to disrupt attacking movements, and communicating proactively to ensure defensive cohesion. His positional awareness and discipline provide Bangladesh's midfield with a level of structure rarely seen.

Without possession, his focus shifts to anticipation and spatial control. Against a player like India's Sunil Chhetri, who thrives in the half-spaces and operates between the lines, Hamza's role will be to not just shield the defence but also enable them to maintain their shape. It's this quality, more than any individual flair, that will elevate Bangladesh's defensive organisation.

Hamza's tactical freedom within the team structure is perhaps the most striking aspect of his role. While comparisons with players like Lionel Messi are often emotionally charged and tactically misguided, a more fitting comparison might be someone like Spain's Sergio Busquets or Joshua Kimmich of Germany. These are players who don't seek the spotlight but dominate through their understanding of structure, their anticipation, and their ability to dictate tempo.

This is not a story of one player single-handedly transforming a team; it is about one player providing a blueprint for tactical evolution. 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.

If those around him can rise to the tactical demands his presence implies -- if the federation, coaches, and supporters understand the potential now within their grasp -- then Bangladesh football could embark on a new era. Not one of sudden miracles, but one of steady, mature growth.

The real question is not whether Hamza can carry this team forward. The question is whether the team is prepared to move forward with him -- tactically, intelligently, and with renewed purpose.

Rifat Masud is a sports journalist, currently working for T Sports