New Delhi, Nov. 4 -- A depleted India will begin their SAFF Championship title defence against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dhaka on Thursday, with only 18 players available for the opening Group B encounter.
The defending champions are without several first-choice players as the senior national team is preparing for two international friendlies against New Zealand on November 12 and 15 in Auckland and Christchurch. The opening match against Pakistan also falls outside the FIFA international window, which has made it difficult for Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to release their players.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) had announced that 18 members of the 28-man squad would travel from Kolkata on November 3, with the remaining players...