India change six, SAFF sees no foul

India have made six changes to their squad midway through the SAFF Championship, recalling six senior players for the national team's friendlies against New Zealand and bringing in six replacements for the remainder of the regional tournament.

The wholesale changes, following India's 3-2 victory over Pakistan in their opening Group A match on November 5, raised questions over whether the team had breached tournament regulations by replacing players after the competition had started.

However, SAFF officials have confirmed that India's move was entirely within the rules, explaining that teams are allowed to make changes from their registered 28-player squads during the tournament.

Jaswar Umar, chairman of the SAFF Competition Committee and president of the Sri Lanka Football Federation, said there was no restriction in the tournament regulations or the Laws of the Game preventing such changes.

"We initially allow teams to register a squad of 50 players, which is later reduced to 28. The team management can then select any 23 players from those 28 for the matchday squad. India have basically used a very clever strategy," Umar Daily Sun.

SAFF general secretary Purushottam Kattel offered a similar explanation, pointing out that the tournament is being held outside the FIFA international window, prompting organisers to allow teams greater flexibility with their squads.

"Since this tournament is not being held during a FIFA window, we have given each team the additional benefit of registering 28 players. Even if a player is not involved in the first match, he can join the team for a subsequent match from the registered list of 28. India's replacement players were all part of that registered list, so the changes are completely legal," Kattel said.

India's decision to field their senior national team against New Zealand while relying on an Under-23 side for the SAFF Championship also prompted questions about whether they were treating the regional competition lightly.

Umar, however, rejected that suggestion, insisting that India's approach was part of a longer-term plan to prepare their next generation of players.

"Not at all. India are one of the strongest teams in this region. This is basically a strategy to prepare their next generation. There is no reason to look down on the SAFF Championship. Rather, they are using this opportunity to assess their young players. Besides, in modern football, talent is valued more than age," he said.

Umar also reminded reporters that the absence of a FIFA window had affected other participating teams, not just India.

"Since the tournament is being played outside the FIFA window, Bangladesh do not have Hamza, while Sri Lanka and Pakistan are also missing several of their key players. Had the tournament been held during a FIFA window, everyone would have been able to field their strongest squads," he said.