New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Former India football captain Shabbir Ali, a recipient of the prestigious Dhyan Chand Award, has been appointed Head of Delegation of the Indian team for the AFC U-17 2027 Qualifiers, to be held in Kuala Lumpur from November 6 to 20.
The 70-year-old Ali represented India in around 100 matches, scoring 30 goals during the 1970s and 1980s. He captained the national team in three tournaments in 1981 -- the Merdeka Tournament, the tour of North Korea and the King's Cup in Bangkok.
Ali had also led India to a joint title with Iran at the 1974 Asian Youth Championship in Bangkok.
After hanging up his boots, Ali turned to coaching and managed several clubs, including Mohammedan Sporting, Salgaocar and Fransa FC. He was also the Technical Director, coach and manager of the Indian national team and the pre-Olympic U-23 team in 1995 and 1996.
"I am thankful to the AIFF for giving me this honour. I am getting an opportunity to serve the nation again, after 30 years, in a different capacity," Ali said in a statement.
India have been drawn in Group E alongside hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam. The teams will play each other once in a round-robin format, with only the group winners advancing to the 2027 AFC U-17 Asian Cup final tournament, scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan in May next year.
