NEW DELHI, July 20 (Reuters) - Top Indian striker Baichung Bhutia could miss the tour of England starting next week because his English club has not released him, an Indian soccer official said on Friday.
Bhutia, who plays for English second division Bury, was
named captain of a 22-member national squad set to play four
matches against English league sides from Tuesday.
But the club were reluctant to release him because Bury's
pre-season games clashed with the Indian matches, All India
Football Federation (AIFF) secretary, Alberto Colaco, told
Reuters. He said: 'There is some problem.'
Indian soccer authorities have sent a further request to
Bury officials and the English FA.
The Indian team have matches lined up against Brentford,
Nottingham Forest, Walsall and Leyton Orient.
Bhutia's absence would be a blow for the national team which
is looking for useful experience ahead of the first Afro-Asian
games to be held in New Delhi in November.
Bhutia, 23, played a crucial role in India's encouraging
show in the recent Asian World Cup qualifying games.
The Indian team, ranked 113 in the latest FIFA rankings,
upset a superior United Arab Emirates before finishing third in
their four-team group, level with Yemen and just a point behind
UAE who qualified for the second round.
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