Forwards Ashish Chaudhary and Ritik Khadka have been included in the men’s national squad for the first time as All Nepal Football Association on Thursday announced the 23-member squad for an international friendly against Bangladesh scheduled at Dasharath Stadium on Tuesday.

Chaudhary was one of the influential members of the Church Boys Club (CBC) who were promoted to the ‘A’ Division last season after securing the title. He was adjudged the best player of the league. Khadka was the member of the ‘A’ division outfit Three Star Club in the Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League last season played from November 2021 to February 2022.

“Both of them are doing well in the training and we are hopeful of good performance from them. They have shown good character in the camp,” said acting head coach Pradip Humagain at a press conference organised to declare the final squad at ANFA headquarters in Satdobato on Thursday. “Khadka was one of the talented players in the league as well.”

Chaudhary, a 22-year-old from Sundar Haraicha in Morang, became one of the few players to be picked straight at the national side from ‘B’ Division league. “I am happy and feel proud to be named in the national squad for the first time,” Chaudhary said. “I will try to give my best for the team.” The forward added that he expects a tough fight in the starting XI because there are lots of senior players in the team.

Tribhuvan Army Club forward duos Nawayug Shrestha and Bharat Khawas were among the players to be axed from the final list out of 30 in the closed camp. Shrestha was assigned captain’s responsibility by former coach Abdullah Almutairi following a player-coach row over accommodation issues.

Altogether 10 players—Rohit Chand, Sujal Shrestha, Bishal Shrestha, Bishal Rai, Anjan Bista, Ananta Tamang, Tej Tamang, Suman Lama, Dinesh Rajbanshi and Bimal Gharti Magar—had left the closed camp under Almutairi following disagreement with the Kuwaiti coach in April ahead of the third and final round of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Regular captain Kiran Limbu was also left out by Almutairi after he supported the 10 players.

All of them except Suman Lama, who is currently in Australia, are named in the squad. Defender Ranjit Dhimal has also marked a comeback at the national squad that includes four goalkeepers.

Winger Sunil Bal was left out due to injury while forward Ayush Ghalan was not training with the team as he was on duty with the recently concluded SAFF U-20 Championship. “Ghalan did not train with us,” Humagain said. The acting head coach did not explain why Nawayug was not in the team. “There are some reasons but Nawayug is a player who deserves to be in the national side,” he said.

Humagain also said that the captain would be announced before the game.

Nepali Squad

Goalkeepers: Kiran Limbu, Bishal Shrestha, Deep Karki, Bikesh Kuthu

Defenders: Rohit Chand, Ananta Tamang, Bikash Tamang, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Bikash Khawas, Suman Aryal, Rejin Dhima

Midfielders: Sudip Gurung, Tej Tamang, Sesehang Angdembe, Bishal Rai, Sujal Shrestha, Suraj Jeu Thakuri, Arik Bista

Forwards: Bimal Gharti Magar, Anjan Bista, Hrithik Khadka, Manish Dangi, Ashish Chaudhary