As Bangladesh gear up for their crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers fixture against India, captain Jamal Bhuiyan likened the excitement surrounding Hamza Choudhury's homecoming to that of a global superstar.

In yesterday's press conference at Hotel InterContinental, all eyes were on Hamza, who is set to make his highly anticipated debut for Bangladesh in Shillong on March 25. Yet, captain Jamal, the first expatriate footballer to represent Bangladesh at the international level, also drew considerable media attention.

"It feels like our [Lionel] Messi is here," Jamal said, emphasising the significance of the Premier League midfielder's inclusion in the squad -- set to leave for India this morning.

Having Hamza as the latest foreign-groomed addition to the squad will greatly "boost" the men in red and green, believes Jamal, who made his debut for Bangladesh in a SAFF Championship fixture against Nepal in 2013.

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"The excitement is five times greater than when I first arrived. Hamza is a Premier League player -- it's a huge boost for us."

Since arriving from England, Hamza has had a whirlwind introduction -- reuniting with family before diving into team activities.

After spending a busy couple of days, the 27-year-old also experienced a packed schedule yesterday, introducing himself to his teammates, attending the official photoshoot and press conference, sharing moments with school footballers, and meeting the youth and sports adviser before taking part in team training in the evening.

At the Crystal Ballroom, packed an hour before the press conference, Hamza wore a smile throughout the press meet. While embracing the enthusiasm surrounding him, the Sheffield United player remained focused on the bigger picture.

"We are a great nation. We can achieve anything if we put in the hard work and respect the process. There's no rush -- we have time, Inshallah. I'll be playing for Bangladesh for years," he said when asked about his ambitions for the team.

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"I come from a different league and style of play, but these players -- like Jamal -- have far more international experience. That counts for a lot. I'm here to learn from them too. Inshallah, we will succeed, taking one step at a time," Hamza added.

Jamal believes Hamza's inclusion significantly strengthens their chances against India. Reflecting on his own debut, he predicts Hamza will experience a powerful moment when the national anthem plays.

"The way everyone is welcoming Hamza is incredible. It will inspire others around the world. On March 25, I'm sure when he hears the anthem, he'll get goosebumps," Jamal said.

With Hamza making himself available for Bangladesh, India, meanwhile, have welcomed back their legendary striker Sunil Chhetri from retirement at the age of 40. When asked who the better player is between Chhetri and Hamza, Jamal dismissed comparisons between the two.

"You can't compare Sunil Chhetri to Hamza. Sunil has done great things for India, but let's be honest -- Hamza is a Premier League player," he stated confidently, adding that Bangladesh are determined to beat India this time.

Head coach Javier Cabrera acknowledged Hamza's impact but stressed that mindset would be key.

"Now, to me, it is about getting ready and working on the mentality of how to beat them [India]. That is our eagerness, our meetings, the intensity of our practices, how much we demand of ourselves to reach the peak level and making sure we convince ourselves that we can make history on Indian soil," Cabrera said.

With Hamza's arrival injecting fresh confidence into the squad, Bangladesh are set to approach their India clash with renewed ambition.