Khalid Jamil unveils first India squad for CAFA Cup: No Mohun Bagan players

India head coach Khalid Jamil announced his first 23-man squad for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup, but the headline-grabbing omission came from Mohun Bagan Super Giant. None of the Kolkata giants’ players have made it to the final list after the club refused to release them for national duty.

The tournament, set to be held in Tajikistan, falls outside the official FIFA window, allowing clubs the right to hold back players for domestic commitments. Mohun Bagan had earlier declined to release key names such as Anirudh Thapa, Liston Colaco, and Sahal Abdul Samad, citing scheduling concerns and injury risks. With the club sticking to its stance, players like Liston, Manvir Singh, and Subhasish Bose remain absent from Jamil’s first squad as India boss.