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In a game-changing development for Indian football, two overseas players have been called up for the national camp ahead of the team’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh in Dhaka later this month. Ryan Williams and Abneet Bharti are expected to join the camp and, should both be cleared, they will be picked in the India squad for the qualifier to be played on November 18. Ryan, who represents Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League, was born in Perth and has represented Australia at the U-20, U-23 levels and senior level. He has played for English clubs including Fulham and Portsmouth. On the other hand, Abneet is an Indian citizen who is based out of Brazil, plays for Academia del Balompié Boliviano (ABB), a first-division club in Bolivia. In the past, he has represented Kerala Blasters in the ISL. India legend Sunil Chhetri played a key role in Ryan switching his allegiance to India, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey has revealed. “During the national camp in May in Kolkata, Sunil Chhetri told me that Ryan was interested in getting the Indian passport and that he had submitted his details to the relevant government authorities in Bengaluru. I reached out to the respective departments in New Delhi,” Chaubey told Sportstar. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya is said to have expedited the entire process of Williams obtaining an Indian passport, which otherwise could have taken years. “The whole process usually takes a lot of time, sometimes years, as multiple agencies are involved and the clearance of Ministries (Home Ministry and Ministry of External Affairs) are required. But it was completed in just seven months, and I’m thankful to the Sports Minister, Mansukh Mandaviya, for ensuring the process,” Chaubey said. Meanwhile, Chhetri has himself stepped away from international football for the second time in his career, having already informed India head coach Khalid Jamil “plan without him”. Chhetri was persuaded to make a retirement U-turn earlier this year to play for India in the round three matches of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
