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Updated on: November 13, 2019, 12:02 AM IST

November 13, 2019, 12:02 AM IST FOLLOW US ON: Facebook Twitter Instagram

Indian defender Anas Edathodika is set to fly back home from Dubai on Tuesday night ahead of the FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers for a family emergency, AIFF announced through social media.

Anas was with the Indian team in Dubai before they are to leave for Dushanbe and Muscat for FIFA 2022 World Cup Qualifiers against Afghanistan and Oman, respectively.


While AIFF's social media announcement did not mention the family emergency, the news is floating that the Indian defender's mother Khadeeja has passed away in Malappuram.

India already do not have Sandesh Jhingan in the squad after he underwent a knee surgery earlier this month post the injury in a friendly against NorthEast United FC ahead of India's World Cup qualifier vs Bangladesh.


Also, it is not yet known if Adil Khan is fully fit since he did not play the last two games for his Indian Super League franchise Hyderabad FC.

After a training session in Dubai on Tuesday, Sunil Chhetri said "converting chances" was an area where the team needs to work more. India had a slew of chances against Bangladesh and all of them they wasted except for the 88th minute header from Adil Khan.


"We are creating chances. But that is not enough. We have to try our best to convert them and try to be a tougher unit while defending. We have missed against Bangladesh and we need to pull up our socks against Afghanistan.

""At the end of the day, if we can do better on the pitch, we'll be happier," Chhetri said.