India announce football squad for Palestine friendlies

New Delhi: India announced their 20-member squad on Friday for the international friendlies against AFC Challenge Cup Champions Palestine.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed the news through an official statement on their website.

Head coach Wim Koevermans handed Pritam Kotal his maiden call-up to the national squad for the matches to be held at the Kanchenjunga Stadium in Siliguri in West Bengal on October 6 and 9.

Pune FC's Arata Izumi and Mohun Bagan's Lalkamal Bhowmick made their comeback into the national fold.

The squad is expected to assemble in Goa on September 27 and train there till October 3.

India is currently ranked 158th in the FIFA rankings, while Palestine are 102nd.

The Squad:

GOALKEEPERS: Subrata Paul, Karanjit Singh, Amrinder Singh.

DEFENDERS: Denzil Franco, Pritam Kotal, Arnab Mondal, Raju Gaikwad, Sandesh Jhinghan, Aiborlang Khongjee, Narayan Das.

MIDFIELDERS: Mehtab Hossain, Lenny Rodrigues, Arata Izumi, Lalkamal Bhowmick, Francis Fernandes, Clifford Miranda, Victorino Fernandes.

FORWARDS: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh, Balwant Singh.

STANDBYES: Shilton Paul, Arindam Bhattacharya, Rowilson Rodrigues, Gabriel Fernandes, Seminlen Doungel, Siam Hanghal, Lalrindika Ralte, Thongkhosem Haokip.  

With agency inputs