Shillong, Sep 1: Meghalaya’s Ricky John Shabong has been included in the 26-member Indian squad for three international friendlies to be played during the September-October FIFA international window.
India head coach Khalid Jamil named the squad, which included midfielder Ricky. He had made his international debut in May at the Unity Cup in London where he featured against Jamaica and then Zimbabwe.
The Blue Tigers will play three international friendlies against higher-ranked opposition, facing Panama on 26th September in Bangalore before taking on five-time world champions Brazil on 3rd October and two-time world champions Uruguay on 6th October, both in Kolkata.
The three matches will provide India with opportunities to test themselves against World Cup opposition, with all three nations having featured at the FIFA World Cup held earlier this year.
Jamil’s side will begin their preparatory camp on 14th September in Bangalore. After the match against Panama, the Blue Tigers will travel to Kolkata on 28th September for their remaining two fixtures.
Four players have been named as reserves – goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari, defenders Chinglensana Singh Konsham and Roshan Singh Naorem and midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam – and may be called up to the squad if required.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Som Kumar
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Lalengmawia Ralte, Macarton Nickson, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Shabong, Sahal Abdul Samad
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh
(File photo)