Saikia stressed that the Indian cricket board will continue to adhere to the policy formalised by the government.
The Champions League Two features 32 clubs divided into eight groups - four West, four East - of four teams each for the group stage, which will be played in a home-and-away round-robin format from September 17 to December 5.
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Qatar, the highest-seeded team among the four, will host Group H, with the matches slated to be played between September 1 to 9.
India eye victory against Afghanistan in push for CAFA Nations Cup play-offs
India lose 0-2 to Thailand in friendly match; reality check ahead of Asian Cup qualifier game
Qatar's Akram Afif has been named the Asian Football Confederation's Player of the Year for a second time with Kiko Seike from Japan securing the women's title at the regional body's annual awards ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday.
The AIFF said Jamil has signed the contract after parting ways with ISL team Jamshedpur FC.
'Yes, this is an away game against a good team, but we have to prepare accordingly and think only of one thing -- a positive result.'
India face hosts Tajikistan on August 29 followed by matches against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4.
Grappling with unprecedented uncertainty over the fate of the upcoming Indian Super League (ISL) season, the AIFF on Saturday moved in to "calm" fears among its referees, assuring them that their contracts will be renewed "as per established procedure."
Keeping their players' "safety and security" in mind, Mohun Bagan Super Giant have decided against travelling to Iran for their AFC Champions League 2 match against Tractor FC owing to the existing volatile situation in the west Asian nation.
AIFF proposes Super Cup from second or third week of September, doubts remain over ISL
Liverpool talisman Mo Salah and substitute Federico Chiesa struck late goals as the Premier League champions began the defence of their title by beating Bournemouth 4-2 in a thriller on the opening night of the season at Anfield on Friday.
There are four first-timers in Jamil's camp of 25 players -- defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
Images from the English Premier League matches on Saturday, August 30.
Nearly two decades later, Aditi Chauhan retires as a trailblazer, having become the first Indian woman to play professional football in Europe.
Indian club East Bengal produced an utterly dominant show to crush Bangladesh's Bashundhara Kings 4-0 in their AFC Challenge League match in Thimphu on Tuesday.
The squad announcement also marks the return of East Bengal's dependable central defender Anwar Ali, who had been sidelined since February due to a hamstring injury. He last featured in competitive action against Bengaluru FC in the ISL.
India beat Iraq 5-0, a step away from Women's Asian Cup qualification
Newly appointed India head coach Khalid Jamil on Sunday cleared the air about the leaving out of talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri from the CAFA Nations Cup national camp, saying it was just a preparatory tournament for the crucial Asian Cup qualifying round matches in October.
India are placed in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round qualifiers along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong, China and Singapore. The matches will be being played on a home-and-away round-robin format.
The Indian men's U-23 team suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat against Tajikistan in a thrilling international friendly at the TALCO Arena in Tursunzoda on Wednesday.
India football head coach Manolo Marquez stepped down on Wednesday after reaching a 'mutual agreement' with the All Indian Football Federation.
India gave a spirited fight but lost to Thailand 2-3 in a high-octane clash of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Chonburi on Sunday.
'But sometimes the team doesn't know how to draw. And today, if you couldn't win the game before the minute 90-91, at least try to be in a position to avoid the defeat. But I feel that India is still in the fight.'
Jamil will succeed Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who parted ways with the AIFF last month following India's recent struggles.
The technical committee of the AIFF, headed by former captain IM Vijayan, will meet on Wednesday to shortlist the candidates for the appointment of the head coach of the senior men's national team after the federation received 170 applications for the vacant post.
Uzbekistan earn first World Cup qualification, Australia, Jordan close in
Rishi Singh's first half goal helped India beat Turkmenistan 1-0 and notch their second consecutive win at the AFC U17 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers in Chonburi, Thailand on friday.
AIFF opens application process for new men's head coach position after Marquez's exit
Kalyan Chaubey alluded to lack of goals from the Indian strikers, which he said could be one of the reasons for the poor show by the team under Manolo Marquez.
Following a directive from the Supreme Court, the AIFF has been asked not to negotiate new terms of the MRA with FSDL, the apex governing body's commercial partner running the ISL, until a final judgment is delivered in the AIFF draft constitution case.
The season-ending Super Cup tournament will be held in Bhubaneswar from April 21, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced.
Houssem Aouar scored a last-minute goal to help Al-Ittihad complete a comeback and secure a 3-2 win over Al-Nassr on Wednesday, taking them a step closer to clinching the Saudi Pro League title.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation on Saturday said it has taken cognisance of a viral video showing people jumping over automated fare collection gates at the Jama Masjid metro station and was in touch with police to file a first information report (FIR).
Tuesday's match holds importance for India as any slip-up could be disastrous in their bid to make it to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
Marquez also confirmed Chhetri's involvement in the friendly match that will mark his 152nd cap for India.
'I prefer not to speak before the Hong Kong tie,' Marquez told Hindustan Times in a WhatsApp message on Monday.
AIFF chief Chaubey accuses Bhutia of running football schools for "vested interest"
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