Mumbai: Goalkeeper Subrata Paul has been axed from the Indian football team for the upcoming AFC Qualifiers match against Kyrgyzstan next month. Initially, Paul, had found a place among the 35 probables and had joined the training camp on in Mumbai, May 20. However, after 3-4 days, national coach Stephen Constantine released Paul. Incidentally this is the first time since 2007 that Paul has not been included in the national side.
The reason for ‘Spiderman’s’ exclusion has been attributed to an ‘injury in the lower back’ region from which he will take time to ‘recover’. However, AIFF sources informed here Friday, that since Paul is yet to be cleared from allegations of doping, the body did not want to take any risk. “It is an AFC Qualifier game. So the AIFF did not want to keep a player who is yet to proclaimed ‘clean’,” said the source on conditions of anonymity. “Only after NADA clears him, he will be eligible for recall.”
It should however, be stated here that Paul had played in the recently-concluded Federation Cup at Cuttack and had a standout performance against Bengaluru FC in a group match which his side DSK Shivajians won 3-2.
Meanwhile Constantine is also unhappy at the fitness level of some of the East Bengal players who are in the camp. Among them are Jackichand Singh, Rowlin Borges, Robin Singh, Arnab Mondal and Narayan Das. However, skipper Sunil Chhetri’s hamstring injury is a major cause for concern for the national coach. Chhetri, who missed the Federation Cup final for Bengaluru FC against Mohun Bagan is yet to start training with the ball, even though he has joined the camp.
India’s match against Kyrgyzstan comes off June 13 at Bangalore.
Agencies
