Srinagar: J&K superstar footballer Danish Farooq made it to the India senior football team as coach Khalid Jamil named 23-member India squad for the CAFA Nations Cup starting August 29.
The former Real Kashmir FC footballer has been included in the final squad. In March 2022, Danish made his debut during India’s two friendly matches against Bahrain and Belarus under formercoach Igor Štimac.
He made his debut on 23 March against Bahrain in their 2–1 defeat.
Meanwhile CAFA will be first assigment as coach for former India footballer Jamil. India 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 zeroed 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..
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.
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..
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.