The Indian football team, led by veteran striker Baichung Bhutia, left on Tuesday for the South Asian Football Federation Championship in Karachi.

The 20-member team, coached by Syed Nayeemuddin, was selected after a fortnight-long preparatory camp in Delhi [ Images ].

India [ Images ], placed in Group 'B', faces Bhutan in its first league match on Thursday.

Bangladesh and Nepal are also in the same group.

Group 'A' comprises hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan, Maldives [ Images ] and Sri Lanka [ Images ].

India team:

Goalkeepers: Sandeep Nandi, Kalyan Chaubey, Felix D'Souza

Defenders: Surukumar Singh, Mahesh Gawli, N S Manju, N P Pradeep, Rajeeb Ahmed, M Suresh, Mehrajuddin.

Midfielders: S Venkatesh (vice-capt), Climax Lawrence, Steven Dias, Mehtab Hussain, James Singh, K Ajayan.

Strikers: Bhaichung Bhutia (capt), Syed Rahim Nabi, Abdul Hakim, Alvito D'Cunha.

Coach: Syed Naeemuddin

Asst coach: Gabriel Joseph

Goalkeeper coach: Atanu Bhattacharya

Manager: P K Banerjee.