Bengaluru, Aug 25: Indian football team’s new head coach Khalid Jamil on Monday named a 23-member squad for the CAFA Nations Cup starting August 29, which will mark his first assignment since taking charge of the national side.
The Blue Tigers will travel to Tajikistan to compete in the tournament, where they have been drawn in Group B alongside hosts Tajikistan, defending champions Iran, and Afghanistan.
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Jamil has homed in on his final squad after a camp which was attended by 29 players, with Mohun Bagan refusing to release their seven recruits on the grounds that the tournament is not being held on a FIFA window..
However, the East Bengal trio of Anwar Ali, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Jeakson Singh Thounaojam joined the camp last Friday before Jithin MS connected with the probables on Sunday after finishing his club engagements.
All four of them are part of the squad picked by Jamil for the CAFA Nations Cup..
Seasoned goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu returned to the fold.
Talisman Sunil Chhetri is not part of the team as Jamil had not called him for the camp. Also missing out on selection were Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh and Subhasish Bose after the club’s refusal to release them for the national camp.
The tournament format will see the top two teams from each group progress to the play-offs, scheduled for September 8.
The group runners-up will contest the third-place match in Dushanbe, while the winners will meet in the final in Tashkent.
Jamil, who impressed during his tenure as head coach with Jamshedpur FC, will have his task cut out while leading the national team..
India are struggling in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, with just one point from their opening two matches and sitting at the bottom of the group..
Jamil began his first camp with the Blue Tigers on August 1.
India’s new head coach Khalid Jamil on Monday played down the chatter around non-availability of some top players in the national camp for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup and asserted that the team is ready for the challenge.
Indian Super League (ISL) champions Mohun Bagan Super Giant refused to release their seven players for the camp, saying it was not mandatory for them to do so as the tournament did not fall in the FIFA international window.
Jamil, who succeeded Igor Stimac at the helm of affairs, was left to pick his final 23-member squad from 29 who attended the camp.
“Talking about the difficulty, some clubs are not releasing players because of some reasons.
We are coming from off-season also. So whoever is available, we have to deal with them,” Jamil said during his first press conference as India head coach here.
“It is a big challenge for me. And the players who are with me, I have never felt any difficulty.
Whatever I want, I have got. So, for me, it’s time to deliver and give our best. I am talking about the players. Everybody’s attitude is very good.”
Asked if the players in the national camp were being affected by the uncertainty over the ISL’s future after the top-tier league was put on hold by the organisers FSDL, Jamil said they were professionals and know how to handle situations.
India squad
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Hrithik Tiwar.
Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvai.
Midfielders: Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Danish Farooq Bhat, Jeakson Singh, Boris Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh, Naorem Mahesh Sing.
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh (Jr.), Jithin MS, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Sing.
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil. (PTI)