Khalid Jamil announces Indian football team final squad for Bangladesh clash in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

India have been knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil on Saturday, November 5, 2025, named a 23-member squad that will travel to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round Group C match on November 18.

The Blue Tigers, who had been camping in Bengaluru since November 6, will arrive in Dhaka on Saturday evening. This will be the fifth match for India in the qualifiers. The Blue Tigers have not registered a win yet.

Ryan Williams’ travels to Bangladesh

The Australia-born forward renounced his Australian passport and acquired Indian citizenship, making him eligible to play for India. Williams has been playing for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League since the 2023/24 season. His inclusion bolsters India’s attacking capabilities, but the 32-year-old might have to wait for his debut.

The AIFF informed while announcing the squad that “While forward Ryan Williams, who recently obtained an Indian passport, will travel to Bangladesh, his inclusion in the matchday squad is subject to the receipt of a No Objection Certificate from Football Australia and the subsequent approvals from FIFA and AFC.”

Uvais, Ashique, and Irfan left out

The final squad has three probables missing who were called up for the national team camp in Bengaluru. Ashique Kuruniyan, Muhammed Uvais, and Irfan Yadwad will not be travelling to Dhaka with the squad. Ashique and Irfan’s exclusions are ostensibly due to the poor performances in national colours but Uvais’s absence is an interesting decision from Khalid Jamil.

Uvais made his debut for India in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 and had an impressive start to his international career. His performance saw a slump against Singapore, where he committed mistakes that led to Singapore running away with the match. But it was expected that the 27-year-old would have more time to prove himself at the international level. But for now, he will have to go back to the basics.

India’s final squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, Sahil.

Defenders: Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bikash Yumnam, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Jay Gupta, Pramveer, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan.

Midfielders: Brison Fernandes, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Macarton Louis Nickson, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam.

Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohammed Sanan, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh.

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