The young Red and Green squad enters the tournament with the ambition of securing their second SAFF U-20 title. 

However, newly appointed foreign coach Cox had limited time to closely assess his players on home soil ahead of the competition. 

The Bangladesh U-20 squad has been strengthened by the inclusion of three expatriate footballers. 

Although they had little time to fully adapt to the team environment, efforts have been made to quickly build understanding and coordination within the squad.

Bangladesh will be aiming for a strong start by defeating Pakistan, which would significantly boost their chances of progressing to the semifinals.