Srinagar, March 8: Star Kashmir footballer Danish Farooq has been included in the Indian National football team camp for the Bahrain and Belarus friendlies.
Danish Farooq who played for Bengaluru FC in Indian Super League along with Anwar Ali who played for FC Goa are set to join Team India as potential replacement for the star footballers Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan after the pair pulled out from the national camp in Pune.
The 38-member provisional India squad was named by head coach Igor Stimac . The team will assemble for a 10-day camp before travelling for the International friendlies against Bahrain and Belarus on March 23 and 26 respectively. Danish alongwith Anwar will join camo immediately on March 10.
Danish was among the star performers in the BFC camp. He finished the campaign as the fourth-highest goalscorer and assist provider for Bengaluru FC this season. With three goals and two assists in 17 appearances, Danish Farooq sealed his place in the starting XI.
“He was as good going ahead as he was in assisting the defence. The 25-year-old attempted 66 tackles and averaged almost 20 passes per game. He also made 16 blocks and eight interceptions in 1080 minutes of action,” KhelNow reported .
Meanwhile Danish has expressed his happiness over being included in India camp.
Captain Sunil Chhetri and Ashique Kuruniyan opted out of the national camp and the friendlies. In a press release on Monday, the AIFF confirmed that the 37-year-old Chhetri has taken time out to recover from “small injuries.”