Anu Lama, the highest international goal scorer for Nepal in the women’s football, was on Thursday conspicuously left out of the 20-member squad for the SAFF Women’s Championship scheduled for March 12-22 in Biratnagar.

The 31-year-old former Nepal skipper has scored a record 35 international goals but was ignored by head coach Hari Khadka. Former Nepali international Jamuna Gurung is behind her at 25 goals with current striker Sabitra Bhandari in all-time third with 22 goals to her credit. Along with Lama, midfielder Bimala Chaudhary and defender Sunita Chaudhary was also left out from the 23-member women’s squad that played Hero Women’s League in Bhubaneshwar, India, on February 9-15.

Lama said she was disappointed by the exclusion. “I think I have contributed a lot for the national team,” said the APF Club footballer, who marked her debut in 2010 during the South Asian Games in Dhaka. “After all these years with the national team, I was expecting to play SAFF Championship on home turf before hanging up my boots for good. I have even shared my feeling with the coach (Khadka) and some of the ANFA officials. Despite my wish, it hurts to be out of the team,” said Lama.

Lama, who appeared as a substitute against Myanmar during the Hero Women’s Gold Cup, was sidelined since December 2016 after undergoing operation for injury to Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL). She returned to action one and half year after the surgery. But she has never been the first choice player in the national squad though she was included in starting XI in all match for APF Club during their title haul of the CoAS International Women’s Football title. Khadka said it was a difficult decision to make considering her invaluable contribution to the Nepali football. “She really worked hard in training but we can’t get carried away with emotions and picked the best among the best,” said Khadka.

She said she now plans to officially announce her retirement from international football on March but continue playing in domestic front. “I hope to engage myself in football in any capacity in future after my playing days are over,” added Lama. The final list of the 20-member player consist of six players from the U-19 team.

Nepal had organised preparatory camp in Itahari, Chandragadi and Biratnagar. Nepal had competed in the Hero Women’s Gold Cup as preparatory event for the biennial SAFF Women’s Championship and finished runners up behind Myanmar. Nepal are the runners-up of the first three editions of the SAFF Championships—2010, 2012 and 2014—but bowed out of the semi-finals in 2016 in India. Nepal lost all three finals as well as the 2016 semi-final against India. India are the champions of all four editions.

Nepal are placed in Group ‘A’ along with Bangladesh and Bhutan. Another group consists of India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Nepal take on Bhutan in the opening game on March 12.

Nepal squad

Goalkeeper: Anjana Rana Magar, Usha Nath, Anjila Tumbapo Subba; Defender: Hira Kumari Bhujel, Gita Rana, Punam Jargha Magar, Amrita Jaishi, Kabita Dhimal, Puja Rana, Man Maya Limbu; Midfielder: Anita Basnet, Dipa Rai, Manjali Kumari Yonjan, Sharmila Thapa, Saru Limbu, Renuka Nagarkote, Anita KC; Forward: Rekha  Poudel, Niru Thapa (capt), Sabitra Bhandari.