Leaked: India Probables for AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers - Sahal, Dheeraj make cut

India's Probables' List for the 2020 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers was leaked on social media on Monday.

The tournament, which will be held in Uzbekistan, will see India kicking off their 2020 AFC U-23 Qualifiers campaign against Tajikistan on 22 March 2019. It will be followed by matches against the hosts two days later and arch-rivals Pakistan on 26th March.

To qualify for the main tournament in Thailand, India need to top their Group F or finish as one of the four best second-placed teams from among the 11 groups.

In the previous edition of the AFC U-23 Qualifiers, India finished third in the group behind Qatar and Syria. Their only solace in the tournament was a 3-1 win over Turkmenistan after losing 0-2 and 0-1 to Qatar and Syria respectively.

Several of the players who have been called up already have senior team appearances to their name, being one of the 47 debutants in Stephen Constantine's second tenure as the Indian National Team head coach. Those prominently included in this particular list are Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Vinit Rai, Nishu Kumar and Sarthak Golui.

Kerala Blasters' Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, who was India's first-choice 'keeper at the 2017 FIFA U17 World Cup has been called up, alongside fellow teenager Mohammed Nawaz, who has had a superb introduction to life in the ISL, with FC Goa.

Dheeraj's U17 World Cup team-mates Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Komal Thatal, Rahul KP, Boris Thangjam, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill and Anwar Ali also find themselves in the list.

India still haven't named their head coach for this tournament, to replace Constantine who also had the additional charge of the U23 side, along with his senior team commitments. There have been strong indications that Derrick Pereira will be in charge, but the AIFF has not yet confirmed any such appointment.

THE LEAKED SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Mohammad Nawaz

Defenders: Arshdeep Singh, Nishu Kumar, Kamalpreet Singh, Provat Lakra, Sajid Dhot, Sairuat Kima, Sarthak Golui, Gaurav Bora, Narender, Mehtab Singh, Anwar Ali, Wungngayam Muirang, Asish Rai, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Sahil Panwar

Midfielder: Vinit Rai, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Amarjit Singh, Deepak Tangri, Rohit Kumar, Suresh Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Liston Colaco, Boris Singh, Komal Thatal, Rahul Kanoly

Forwards: Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Hitesh Sharma, Rahim Ali, Samuel Lyngdoh, Rohit Danu, Jerry Mawihmingthanga