The 31-year-old Paul, who has been a part of multiple Nehru Cup triumphs and the AFC Challenge Cup win in 2009, which helped India qualify for the Asian Cup after a gap 27 years, did not figure in the list compiled by chief coach Stephen Constantine.
Skipper Sunil Chhetri's name is also not in the list due to double bookings in India's last international.
The players will undergo a preparatory camp in Mumbai ahead of the March 27 match against Kyrgyz Republic at the Dolon Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
Paul was India's custodian during their three successive title triumphs under English coach Bob Houghton - the Nehru Cups of 2007 and 2009, and the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008 - and he also kept goal for India in all the matches at the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar in 2011, making 35 saves in all matches, including 16 in a 4-1 defeat to Korea, which earned him a nickname of 'Indian Spiderman' from rival coach.
He has played for Mumbai City FC and NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League (ISL) , and represented DSK Shivajians for the previous couple of seasons of the I-League.
The list of probables is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith, Amrinder Singh, Rehenesh TP
DEFENDERS: Pritam Kotal, Nishu Kumar, Lalruatthara, Anas Edathodika, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Sarthak Golui, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das, Subhasish Bose.
FORWARDS: Hitesh Sharma, Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Seminlen Doungel, Alen Deory, Manvir Singh, Sumeet Passi.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
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