New Delhi: India has announced a 28-member squad for the upcoming SAFF Championship, scheduled to be held in Dhaka from November 5 to 17. This will be a second-string, Under-23 team, led by head coach Naushad Moosa.

The defending champions are not sending their main senior team as they are slated to play two international friendly matches against New Zealand on November 12 and 15 in Auckland and Christchurch, respectively. According to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), 18 players will depart from Kolkata to Dhaka on November 3, with the remaining 10 joining the squad in the following days.

There has been some reluctance from Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to release players, as India's opening match in the SAFF Championship against Pakistan on November 5 falls outside FIFA's international match window (November 9-17). Clubs are hesitant to release players amidst the ongoing league season.

Bibiano Fernandes, who recently coached the Indian U-15 men's team at the FIFA U-15 World Cup and Festival in Azerbaijan, has been appointed as assistant coach. AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan expressed gratitude to all clubs for their cooperation in releasing players for the championship, acknowledging their support for national representation.

India is placed in Group B alongside Maldives and Pakistan. The team will kick off its campaign against Pakistan on November 5, followed by a match against Maldives on November 11. Hosts Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan are in Group A. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals on November 14, with the final scheduled for November 17. All matches will be played at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

India, having won the previous title by defeating Kuwait in the final in Bengaluru in 2023, will be aiming for a record tenth SAFF Championship trophy.

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