With two-and-a-half months left to the start of the Hockey World League (HWL) Round-2 in Dhaka, Bangladesh head coach Oliver Kurtz has started his selection process by taking a look at players from the under-21 and under-18 teams in an effort to pick up the best squad for the tournament.

Kurtz has called up 15 new players from the under-21 team, players who have started training with 18 senior players. These players will play a few matches in a four-day training camp. Later, the German coach will conduct training with U-18 players of BKSP in Savar on December 14-15 and will select some 30 to 40 players for the final phase of training.

“The players did a good job in the last tournament (AHF Cup) but they will start from zero in the next tournament (Hockey World League). I want to build a new team by selecting best 18 players and that's why I want to check out players from the under-21 and under-18 sides. It is not that there is a lack of senior players, it is just part of my selection process. I am responsible for bringing the best players in the squad,” Kurtz said before the start of the training camp at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

“There is a good chance for the new players to be included,” Kurtz said about the new players. “However, it is tough for the juniors to get opportunities in the senior team because of their shortage of international experience. Despite that by training with the seniors they can earn valuable experience and be sound in technical and tactical knowledge.”

“It is always good for senior players to face challenge from the juniors and this training camp will help both groups of players. The seniors will be trying to keep their places while the juniors will be hoping to get into the national team. There will be a good competition among the players which was not there before,” said veteran forward Rasel Mahmud Jimmy.

Bangladesh have been pitted alongside Canada, Oman and Fiji in their pool while the other pool features Egypt, China, Ghana and Sri Lanka. The league is scheduled to get underway from March 4 in Dhaka.

“Our first target is to qualify for the semifinals, and then we will certainly think of a win in the semifinals to go to the (Hockey World League) third round. Even though two-and-a-half months' preparation is not good enough but we want to qualify for Round 3,” said Kurtz, who is supposed to sign a deal with Bangladesh Hockey Federation within a few days before leaving for Germany for Christmas vacation.