Kolkata : Mohun Bagan SG are all set to release three players for Indian Football Team that will go to Dhaka for SAFF Championship 2026. Those players are Abhishek Sooryavanshi, Priyansh Dubey and Suhail Ahmad Bhatt.
SAFF Championship 2026 will be held at Dhaka from November 5 to 17 with defending champion India taking on Pakistan in their opening encounter.
One of the most talked points in the past was Mohun Bagan’s acts of not releasing players for Indian team outside FIFA International Window for injury avoiding risks. The Club earlier stated in arguments that if a footballer gets injured outside FIFA Window, the entire responsibility for the treatment falls on the club.
In the past Mohun Bagan as a result of the above reasons didn’t release players for National Team ahead of major tournaments outside FIFA Window. In Unity Cup 2026 at London, they didn’t let seven players to participate in the tournament. They’re – Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Apuia, Sahal Abdul Samad, Anirudh Thapa, Abhishek Singh and Vishal Kaith. That came on the back of Subhasish Bose getting injured in groin and adductor muscle while playing in AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh. While AIFF stated that the injury was actually picked during ISL 2025 match between Mohun Bagan vs Bengaluru FC, accusing the club of failing to properly report the issue and begin rehabilitation in time.
Another such incident occurred during 2023 after Ashique Kuruniyan suffered an ACL injury around the Asian Games period, following which Mohun Bagan became increasingly resistant towards releasing players for non-mandatory national assignments. Mohun Bagan refused it’s players release ahead of CAFA Nations Cup 2025 also.
While Mohun Bagan insisted they are not physically stopping players from joining India camp, the club made it clear they will not take responsibility for injuries suffered before the FIFA window officially opens.
But contrary to previous stances, Mohun Bagan have officially decided to release 3 key junior players for the SAFF Championship 2026 to be held at Dhaka.
Since announcement of the date of SAFF Championship, India’s participation was uncertain. There’re 2 reasons for this, firstly, the tournament is outside FIFA window hence many clubs could be reluctant to release players amidst ISL. Then there’s a FIFA window between from 9-17 November where India will face New Zealand on November 12 and 15 at Auckland and Christchurch respectively, which clashes with SAFF Championship at Dhaka. India who’re grouped with Pakistan and Maldives will face them on November 5 and 11 respectively.
Thus, at the beginning, the Blue Tigers’ participation was in jeopardy. However, official statements confirmed that India will participate. But the possibility of Indian senior team playing is relatively low as they’ll face New Zealand at that time, hence, India are likely to send U23 team.
In 2009, SAFF Championship was held at Bangladesh and India sent their U23 team who defeated Maldives in the final to win the tournament. SAFF 2026 is a 6 nations tournament divided in 2 groups. Group A consists of host Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan. Group B has 9 times champion India, Pakistan and Maldives.
Mohun Bagan’s 3 players will join the National camp on October 31. Among them, Suhail Bhatt and Abhishek Sooryavanshi are in red hot form who played pivotal role in Mohun Bagan’s Calcutta Football League (CFL) 2026 win. Right now, Mohun Bagan and all other prominent Indian clubs are busy with Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 duties where The Mariners will face Chennaiyin FC today at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium – Bagan’s first home game of the season.
