AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifiers: Subrata Paul dropped from 32-member Indian squad for upcoming Kyrgyz Republic match

New Delhi: India’s most-capped goalkeeper Subrata Paul was on Friday dropped from the 32-member national football probable list for the forthcoming 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifying match against Kyrgyz Republic. The 31-year-old Paul, who has been a part of multiple Nehru Cup triumphs and the AFC Challenge Cup win in 2009, which helped India qualify for the Asian Cup after a gap 27 years, did not figure in the list compiled by chief coach Stephen Constantine. [caption id=“attachment_4383679” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Subrata Paul. Image courtesy: Twitter @JamshedpurFC[/caption] Skipper Sunil Chhetri’s name is also not in the list due to double bookings in India’s last international. The players will undergo a preparatory camp in Mumbai ahead of the 27 March match against Kyrgyz Republic at the Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek. Paul had last year earned a massive reprieve after the National Anti- Doping Agency (NADA) revoked his provisional suspension, letting him off with a warning with regards to violation of anti-doping rule. Paul was India’s custodian during their three successive title triumphs under English coach Bob Houghton – the Nehru Cups of 2007 and 2009, and the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 - and he also kept goal for India in all the matches at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in 2011, making 35 saves in all matches, including 16 in a 4-1 defeat to Korea, which earned him a nickname of ‘Indian Spiderman’ from rival coach. Paul is also the first Indian goalkeeper to sign for a foreign club, having signed up with FC Vestsjaelland of Denmark in January 2014, and has also represented Kolkata’s big two clubs, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, besides a long stint with Pune FC. He has played for Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) , and represented DSK Shivajians for the previous couple of seasons of the I-League. The list of probables is as follows: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, Rehenesh TP Defenders: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Lalruatthara, Anas Edathodika, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das, Subhasish Bose. Midfielders: Jackichand Singh, Udanta Singh, Seityasen Singh, Dhanapal Ghanesh, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh, Rowllin Borges, Mohammad Rafique, Cavin Lobo, Bikash Jairu, Halicharan Narzary. Forwards: Hitesh Sharma, Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Seminlen Doungel, Alen Deory, Manvir Singh, Sumeet Passi.