Subrata Pal and Syed Rahim Nabi excluded from India's friendly squad against Tajikistan

FILE PHOTO: Syed Rahim Nabi (L)

India’s coach Wim Koevermans named the final 20-man squad for the upcoming international friendly against Tajikistan on Monday. The notable absentees were goalkeeper Subrata Pal and the versatile Syed Rahim Nabi.

The away friendly against Tajikistan is scheduled for August 14, and Koevermans had named a list of 30 probables last month. That list has been brought down to 20, and Sportskeeda has learnt that the star duo are among the players who have been excluded as they haven’t had much pre-season training because the Dutchman wasn’t keen on including so many players who are well behind the requisite fitness schedule.

While custodian Subrata and reigning AIFF Player of the Year Nabi only started training with the rest of the IMG-Reliance contracted players on Friday, the quartet of Lalkamal Bhowmick, K Asif, CK Vineeth and Mohammed Rafique are yet to have any meaningful training session as they are still contracted with Kolkata’s United Sports Club, who still haven’t started their pre-season due to financial problems.

Young defender Sandesh Jhingan, who has been loaned to Pailan Arrows from IMG-R, has also been excluded due to fitness concerns along with Arrows playmaker Alwyn George as the developmental side of the AIFF only recently started their pre-season preparations after resolving some issues with the sponsors.

The only two IMG-R contracted players who are part of the 20-man squad are defenders Gouramangi Singh and Nirmal Chettri. Koevermans has plenty of options in the goalkeeping and midfield department but doesn’t have anyone close to the international experience of centre back Gouramangi while the versatility of Nirmal, who can operate both as a central defender and right back, was the reason behind his inclusion.

There are only three uncapped players in the final squad including veteran wide midfielder Shylo Malswamtluanga, who has rejoined East Bengal this term. The other two are East Bengal central defender Arnab Mondal and Sporting Clube striker Dawson Fernandes with both being rewarded for their impressive club form last season.

East Bengal’s Lalrindika Ralte makes a return to the squad after missing out from the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers in March while new Dempo signing Jeje Lalpekhlua has been omitted.

Tajikistan are placed 40 spots above India at 106 in the current FIFA Rankings, but the next release will be coming out on Thursday.

The 20-man squad will leave for Tajikistan from New Delhi on Friday while the majority of the probables who missed out are expected to be part of the SAFF Cup preparatory camp which starts from August 16 in Bangalore.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh, Sandip Nandy, Subhasish Roychowdhury.

Defenders: Denzil Franco, Nirmal Chettri, Arnab Mondal, Gouramangi Singh, Raju Gaikwad, Gurjinder Kumar.

Midfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lalrindika Ralte, Arata Izumi, Lenny Rodriguez, Jewel Raja Shaikh, Francis Fernandes, Shylo Malsawmtluanga, Clifford Miranda.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Dawson Fernandes.