KATHMANDU: Some 30 players have been selected for the third edition of the SAFF U-18 Championship to be organized in Kathmandu.

Head coach Chet Narayan Shrestha trimmed his preliminary squad from 46 to 30 after Monday’s selection match. The team also had played a friendly match with Nepal U-16 team last Friday. Coach Shrestha said that the omitted players are promising but still needs to improve themselves.

“12 players in the squad have ‘A’ Division experience and I believe that the reduced players can improve by playing domestic competitions and leagues,” he said.

Nepal has been placed in Group ‘A’ of the SAFF U-18 Championship alongside Bhutan, Maldives and Pakistan.

“My team has a clear objective to reach the final and win it. We are in a fair group and for us the important thing is Nepal is hosting the championship,” Shrestha said.

APF Stadium, Kathmandu is hosting the championship from 20 to 29 September 2019.

Shrestha will announce his final 23-member squad in the first week of September.

Goalkeepers: Bishal Sunar, Rohit Karki, Surya Adhikari, Pujan Hona.

Defenders: Bishal Basnet, Randip Poudel, Padam Bhattarai, Ashim Gurung, Sujan Sharma, Nabin Gurung, Roshan Dong, Bishant Basnet, Alik Rumba, Anjan Maharjan.

Midfielders: Sishir Lekhi, Dipesh Gurung, Roshan Rana Magar, Rajan Pun, Akash Buda Magar, Rejin Majhi, Jaya Gurung, Manish Thapa, Kushal Phuya, Nitin Thapa.

Forwards: Brijesh Chaudhary, Sachu Gurung, Niraj Chaudhary, Kailash Lamichhane, Darshan Gurung, Manish Dangi.