India’s preparations for the upcoming international friendly against Panama have gathered pace, with Sahal Abdul Samad, Manvir Singh and Anwar Ali joining the national camp in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The arrival of the three players means the Indian camp has now reached full attendance ahead of a busy run of international fixtures. They were the final members to report for duty after being delayed by commitments with their respective clubs.
Sahal and Manvir had been representing Mohun Bagan in the Calcutta Football League. The pair joined the national setup after helping the Mariners complete a successful campaign by winning the competition.
Anwar, meanwhile, arrived following his involvement with East Bengal. The defender was part of the side that played out a 2-2 draw against Jordanian club Al-Hussein.
With the full group now together, India can focus on preparations for its first assignment against Panama. The Blue Tigers are scheduled to face the Central American side on September 25 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.
That fixture will be followed by a much-anticipated meeting with Brazil at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on October 3. India will remain in Kolkata for its next game, taking on Uruguay on October 6.
The series of matches will provide India with challenging opposition and an opportunity to test a 26-member squad containing players across several positions.
Ryan Williams, Rahim Ali and Vikram Partap Singh are among the attacking options included in the squad. In midfield, India can call upon Anirudh Thapa, Farukh Chaudhary and Mohammed Sanan.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is expected to take his place in goal, while the defensive unit includes Akash Mishra, Anwar and Jay Gupta among its options.
The latest arrivals complete the group and allow the entire squad to train together before the Panama fixture. With three international matches scheduled in quick succession, the Bengaluru camp will serve as an important preparation period before the team travels for its subsequent games.
India will begin the sequence against Panama before attention shifts to Kolkata, where the encounters with Brazil and Uruguay will complete a demanding international schedule for the Blue Tigers.
