Canadian professional footballer Shamit Shome has received clearance from FIFA Players Status Committee to play for Bangladesh national football team.
The 27-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Cavalry FC in the Canadian Premier League, is now eligible to represent Bangladesh in international competitions, Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) confirmed on Tuesday.
His debut is expected in the upcoming Asian Cup Qualifier against Singapore, scheduled to be held in Dhaka on June 10. He is set to feature alongside English Premier League footballer Hamza Dewan Choudhury.
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The process of naturalising Shome to play for Bangladesh began in April. He obtained his birth certificate on April 20, followed by a clearance certificate from the Canada Soccer Association on May 1.
He received his Bangladeshi passport on May 5 and finally secured approval from the FIFA Players’ Status Committee on May 6.
Born and raised in Canada to Bangladeshi parents, Shome previously played two international matches for the Canadian national team in 2020.
Earlier on March 25, Hamza Choudhury made his debut for Bangladesh in a match against India.