Defender Ranjit Dhimal and forward Bharat Khawas were among the notable names left out from the 28-member national football squad currently undergoing training for the SAFF Championship in Pokhara, Kaski.

National team coach Abdullah Almutairi on Monday axed 10 players among 38 from the national team camp preparing for the sub-continental football tournament. Dhimal and Khawas were both left out from the Qatari coach’s squad that played AFC Asian Cup and FIFA World Cup Joint Qualifiers matches in June.

Defender Dhimal is one of the best defenders of the national football team and was the captain of Biratnagar City FC in the Nepal Super League held in April and May.

Along with the duo, midfielder Bikram Lama was also left out from the team. Lama had recently returned to action after more than a year-long layoff owing to injuries.

Forward George Prince Karki, goalkeeper Bishal Sunar, Randip Poudel, Rajiv Lopchan, Sanjog Rai, Tridev Gurung and Sesehang Angdembe were the other players to be left out from the squad.

Arpan Karki, Sishir Lekhi and Rajan Gurung are the new guns struggling to secure a place in the national squad for the first time. The final squad will consist of 23 players.

Nepal are set to play two friendly matches against India on September 2 and 5 at Dasharath Stadium to prepare the team for the SAFF Championship taking place in the Maldives from October 1 to 13.

Nepali Squad

Kiran Kumar Limbu, Bishal Shrestha, Deep Karki, Bikesh Kuthu, Arpan Karki, Suman Aryal, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Gautam Shrestha, Ananta Tamang, Rohit Chand, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Suman Lama, Kamal Thapa Magar, Nitin Thapa, Tej Tamang, Rajan Gurung, Pujan Uperkoti, Bishal Rai, Santosh Tamang, Sujal Shrestha, Sunil Bal, Manish Dangi, Anjan Bista, Ayush Ghalan, Nawayug Shrestha, Aashish Lama, Abhishek Rijal, Shisir Lekhi.