Panaji: India coach Naushad Moosa will have 10 players on the opening day, six more when the team leaves for Dhaka and a total of 18 to choose from for the SAFF Championship opener against bitter rivals Pakistan on Nov 5.Ten others will join the team before the second group-stage clash against Maldives on Nov 11.“We can register 28 players for the SAFF Championship which gives us some flexibility in putting a squad together,” a senior official told TOI on Thursday. “It’s not easy to manage because the Pakistan clash is scheduled outside the (FIFA) international window, clubs have engagements, and the senior India team will travel to New Zealand for two friendlies.”According to sources, Moosa’s initial 18-member squad will comprise players from Mumbai City, Kerala Blasters, and Punjab FC, since these clubs do not have games on match day 5 where five matches will be played till Nov 7. The senior official said these clubs have agreed to release their players outside the window.Mohun Bagan, too, have come to AIFF’s rescue by agreeing to release three players — Suhail Bhat, Abhishek Sooryavanshi and Priyansh Dubey – after the clash against Punjab on Oct 31, rather than keep them with the team till the conclusion of their fifth-round fixture. The three players have had limited game time in the top tier league but will have an important role to play in Moosa’s squad for the SAFF Championship.Moosa is also understood to have selected players from Mohammedan Sporting Club, particularly since they were part of his previous India U-23 squads.The final SAFF Championship squad will comprise six under-23 players and national team reserves, those who could not make it to Khalid Jamil’s team for the two friendlies in New Zealand.“India will have a competitive squad against Pakistan and a strong one for the rest of the championship. Moosa has selected players who have been with him in the past or those he believes will adapt quickly since there is no preparatory camp. India will train just once before the Pakistan clash and twice with a full squad ahead of the semifinal decider against Maldives,” said the official.The SAFF Championship will be hosted in Dhaka from Nov 4 to 17. India are chasing a record-extending tenth SAFF title.
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