KATHMANDU, June 2: Bimal Basnet and Hemanta Thapa Magar have earned their first ever national team call up following their inclusion in the 20-member squad announced by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Friday for a friendly match against India.
The friendly match between two arch rivals is scheduled for June 6 at Andheri Sports Complex, Mumbai. Defender Bimal and midfielder Hemanta have been brought in as replacements for injured Rabin Shrestha and suspended Bikram Lama.
India announces squad for friendly matches against Nepal
Similarly, Nawayug Shrestha and Suman Lama who were absent in the team that played the AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers match against the Philippines on March 28 also have made comeback.
Nepal's national team head coach Gyotoku Koji has called three goalkeepers, seven each defenders and midfielders alongside three forwards.
Raju Kaji Shakya is assisting Japanese coach Koji while Ujjwal Manandhar is goalkeeping coach of the Nepali team.
The match between Nepal and India is taken as preparation for their upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers. Both nations are playing home matches in continental tournament's qualifiers against Yemen and Kyrgyzstan on June 13.
Full squad:
Goalkeepers: Bikesh Kuthu, Kiran Kumar Limbu and BIshal Shrestha
Defenders: Biraj Maharjan, Ananta Tamang, Aditya Chaudhary, Kamal Shrestha, Devendra Tamang, Jitendra Karki, Bimal Basnet
Midfielders: Rohit Chand, Bishal Rai, Heman Gurung, Anjan Bista, Sujal Shrestha, Suman Lama, Hemanta Thapa Magar
Forwards: Bimal Gharti Magar, Bharat Khawas, Nawayug Shrestha
