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Xtra Time Web Desk: Sunil Chhetri and his team will soon leave for Qatar for the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, announced the All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Friday. The AIFF is waiting for confirmation from the Government health authorities before deciding on the dates of departure.

The Blue Tigers are already out of the reckoning for Qatar World Cup berth. The remaining three matches in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Qatar (June 3), Bangladesh (June 7) and Afghanistan (June 15) are crucial for Asian Cup qualification.

Meanwhile the national camp which was planned in Kolkata from May 2 to 21 had to be called off due to the pandemic. The senior team was supposed to leave for Dubai on May 22 for a week-long camp as well as a friendly match but that also seems cancelled in view of the devastating second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in the country. A request by the AIFF to postpone the matches in Qatar was reportedly shot down by the AFC.

The Indian team is currently fourth in the group standings with three points from five matches.