India have named a largely young squad for the SAFF Championship in Dhaka, with most of their senior players set to miss the tournament.
The defending champions announced a 28-member squad for the competition, which will run from November 5 to 17 at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
Most of the selected players come from India’s U23 team. The senior side will play two friendly matches against New Zealand in November, leading India to send a second string squad for the regional tournament.
U23 head coach Naushad Moosa will take charge of the team. U15 coach Bibiano Fernandes will assist him.
However, India have included six players from the squad selected for matches against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay in September and October.
They are Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Farukh Choudhary, Macarton Nickson, Ricky John Shabong and Irfan Yadwad.
Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Suresh Singh Wangjam, who were on the reserve list for those matches, have also made the squad.
Eighteen players will arrive in Dhaka from Kolkata on November 3. The remaining 10 will join the team once their clubs release them.
India will face Pakistan in their opening match on November 5 before meeting Maldives on November 11.
The three teams are in Group B, while hosts Bangladesh will compete against Sri Lanka and Bhutan in Group A.
The top two teams from each group will reach the semi-finals on November 14. The final will take place on November 17.
India won the last SAFF Championship in 2023 after beating Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Arsh Anwer Shaikh, Mohanraj K, Priyansh Dubey.
Defenders: Abdul Rabeeh, Bijoy Varghese, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Ronney Kharbudon, Sandip Mandi.
Midfielders: Abhishek Suryavanshi, Adison Singh Thokchom, Brison Fernandes, Ebindas Yesudasan, Farukh Choudhary, Macarton Nickson, Manglenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, Noufal PN, Ricky John Shabong, Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Liston Colaco, Muhammad Suhail, Vishnu PV, Suhail Ahmad Bhat.
