KATHMANDU, Aug 17: Nepal national football team head coach Johan Kalin on Friday announced a 23-member squad for the upcoming friendly with Malaysian Super League Champion Johor Darul Ta’ Zim Football Club. 

The squad selection saw Kalin leave out Captain Biraj Maharjan and a comeback of forward Bimal Gharti Magar, who joins the forward line of Bimal Rana, Abishek Rijal and Nawayug Shrestha. 

Along with Maharjan, senior players Kiran Chemjong and Rohit Chand were also not called up in the squad as first-choice goalkeeper Chemjong is currently on trial with a Japan’s third-division club, and Chand is with Indonesia’s Liga 1 defending champion Persija Jakarta. 

The match will serve as the final preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (AFC) matches against Kuwait on September 5 and Chinese Taipei on September 10. The match will be played at Pasar Gudang Stadium in Johar City, Malaysia. 

Nepal is pitted in Group B of the qualifiers along with Australia, Jordan, Kuwait and Chinese Taipei. 

SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Bikesh Kuthu, Alan Neupane, Bishal Shrestha
Defenders: Saroj Dahal, Ajit Bhandari, Dinesh Rajbanshi, Ananta Tamang, Devendra Tamang, Rajeen Dhimal, Suman Aryal
Midfielders: Sunil Bal, Ravi Paswan, Anjan Bista, Sujal Shrestha, Heman Gurung, Bikram Lama, Tej Tamang, Santosh Tamang, Bishal Rai
Forward: Bimal Gharti Magar, Bimal Rana, Abishek Rijal, Nawayug Shrestha

 
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