India's new football coach Bob Houghton expressed happiness with the selection of the team to play in the White Caps Nation Cup tournament in Vancouver, Canada, from July 17.
"This is the best available talent I had in hand to choose and I hope the Vancouver tour will help the boys to settle down quickly to the right formation and fitness level ahead of the Asian Cup qualifying matches against Saudi Arabia and Japan later this year," Houghton said, after a friendly match against Crops of Signals.
Asked if Baichung Bhutia's absence would be felt, the chief coach said it is a good opportunity for the other players to prove themselves.
The 20-member Indian team, led by Mahindra United medio S Venkatesh, will play against Vancouver City Club, Cardiff City Club from England and China's Under-20 side.
For Venkatesh, who will be leading the team for the third time, said, "This is a good opportunity for me to prove myself as a captain and, hopefully, we do well in the four-team series."
