The team management had decided to gamble on the Brothers Union captain's fitness by including him in the 20-member squad on Wednesday but the injury in his front muscle of the right leg was aggravated in the save evening.

Coach Diego Cruciani replaced Sujan with Arambagh midfielder Shahriar Abdullah Rintu yesterday.

Injury has cost the Argentine coach two of his senior players -- Hassan Al Mamun and Sujan -- and he admits that it would be difficult to work with a whole new backline.

"When I was leaving for BKSP for the training yesterday, I knew Sujan was fit, if not for the first match then for the rest. But when I reached there, he was telling me that he would not be able to play because he was feeling pain again. The two doctors also confirmed he would not recover within two weeks. That's why we had to rule him out finally," Cruciani explained to reporters at the Hotel Sonargaon Hotel shortly after the team's checking-in.

"Our preparation for the SAFF Championship was better but now we are facing many problems. But I still have belief in my boys. Our last match-practice performance was not good. But I feel that when the tournament starts, they will be on top," hoped the 42-year-old.

After Cruciani had taken over, Bangladesh played impressive football in Myanmar and the SAFF Championship but his charges have been not the same during two Asian Cup qualifiers against Uzbekistan and Hong Kong, losing both.

The Argentine, still trying to find an answer, said: "This is my great question too. Our performance has definitely been down. I don't see any problem in fitness. But may be, the hard fitness training that we introduced to the players before the SAFF tournament, has taken toll on them. They are not used to such tough practices and I feel many are tired now because they haven't had any rest.

"That's not what I am afraid of. They tend to forget the plans and instructions."

Cruciani is trying to mix experience and youth but it has not been easy.

"Now I have only one defender who has played regularly under me. In midfield, Monwar is a senior player but he is also new to me. To get them go well, will take time.

Cruciani has not set a particular target for the booters but said he wants the team to play according to his wish. "I want them to follow my instructions and the wins will come. It is important because we are playing on home ground. I want to adopt a new style for the team. It is very difficult to change habits because they have always followed one style for long.

While talking about his Group C opponents, he said, "I don't know much about Cambodia and Guam but I know about Palestine. I did not see them play but my information says they are a team with the potential to all the way in the Challenge Cup and win the trophy.