Margao, March 1 (IANS): The Indian national football team assembled here Saturday for the international friendly against Bangladesh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium March 5.

However, nine players including captain Sunil Chhetri will join Sunday due to I-League commitments. Apart from Chhetri and his Bengaluru FC teammate Robin Singh, East Bengal’s Mehtab Hossain, Arnab Mondal, Lalrindika Ralte, Mohun Bagan’s Aiborlang Khongjee, Pune FC’s Gurjinder Kumar and Amrinder Singh and Mumbai FC’s Sandesh Jhingan will join Sunday.

The 20-member squad will have their first practice session Sunday.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Amrinder Singh (Pune FC), Subrata Paul (FC Vestsjaelland)

Defenders: Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal), Aibhorlang Khongjee (Mohun Bagan), Sandesh Jhingan (Mumbai FC), Gurjinder Kumar (Pune FC), Narayan Das (Dempo SC)

Midfielders: Mehtab Hossain, Lalrindika Ralte (both East Bengal), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar SC), Alwyn George, Clifford Miranda (both Dempo SC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa)

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (both Bengaluru FC), Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers)