'Everybody is working hard': India head coach Khalid Jamil after confirming Sunil Chhetri-less squad for CAFA Nations Cup

BENGALURU: New India head coach Khalid Jamil struck a confident note here on Monday when he announced the squad for the CAFA Nations Cup in Tajikistan.While what stood out was the absence of half a dozen key players in the 23-member squad not released by their club Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Jamil said, “We go match by match and after that we'll see.

... This is just preparation (tournament) and we have enough time (for the AFC qualification matches against Singapore).”“The players know that when they go inside, they have to have belief. Everybody is working hard, so that is a good part. They have to be mentally strong, believe in themselves and we must play as a team. That is the first motto for me,” said the first Indian head coach of the national team in more than two decades.“We are coming from offseason and so based on our performance in this tournament, we will plan. Some players were not available; the rest, whoever we wanted, were all in the squad. We have to take it and accept it as a challenge. The Bagan players are not there, so we have to use the other players but I don't feel any difficulty,” the coach added. Bagan had refused to release their players for the ongoing national camp, stressing that it is “not mandatory” outside a FIFA window.

The squad: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Hrithik Tiwari; Defenders: Rahul Bheke, N Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Hmingthanmawa Ralte, Muhammed Uvais; Midfielders: Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Danish Farooq Bhat, Thounaojam Jeakson Singh, Boris Singh Thangjam, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh Kumam, N Mahesh Singh.; Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Jithin MS, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Pratap Singh.