AFC Asian Cup: India announce 34-member probable squad

India national football team head coach Stephen Constantine has named a 34-member probable squad for the upcoming 2019 AFC Asian Cup, starting January 5 at the United Arab Emirates.

The 34-member team, which will be cut down to 28, consists of four goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 14 midfielders and six forwards. All the 34 players are set to meet for a preparatory camp on December 17.

Notable inclusions in the squad include young Kerala Blasters midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad and U-17 World Cupper Komal Thatal, who has dazzled with Kolkata franchise ATK.

Of those 34 players, 28 will be selected to travel to UAE on December 20. They will be part of two friendlies, which will be played prior to the start of the tournament before the squad is trimmed to a final 23-member team for the Asian Cup. India’s campaign in the competition begins on January 6.

But apart from having some surprising inclusions, the 34-member squad also has some notable absentees the biggest of which is Rahul Bheke of Bengaluru FC and Michael Soosairaj of Jamshedpur. Centre-back Salam Ranjan Singh from East Bengal is the only player from I-League.

India has been placed in Group A in the tournament and its opponents are Bahrain, Thailand and host United Arab Emirates. They play their opening match against Thailand at the Al Nahyan Stadium on January 6.

Full 34-man probable squad:

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, Arindam Bhattacharjya.

Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Lalruatthara, Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Subhasish Bose, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das.

Midfielders: Udanta Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Jackichand Singh, Pronay Halder, Anirudh Thapa, Vinit Rai, Rowllin Borges, Sahal Abdul, Germanpreet Singh, Komal Thatal, Bikash Jairu, Ashique Kuruniyan, Halicharan Narzary, Lallianzuala Chhangte.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Balwant Singh, Manvir Singh, Sumeet Passi, Farukh Choudhary.

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