New Delhi, September 1 (IANS) Bhaichung Bhutia, who recently expressed his desire to quit big time football, was Thursday named captain of a 20-member Indian squad for a qualifying round match of the Asian Cup 2007.

An All India Football Federation (AIFF) statement said the match would be played against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh Sep 6.

Bhutia, who has lately been busy with television commentary, said in July he wanted to quit top class football. But AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi apparently persuaded him to rethink about his decision.

Bhutia, 29, played for India with distinction, and also represented East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Bury FC in England.

Lately, the Sikkim player has been appearing regularly on television as an expert commentator. His decision to quit the game could have been influenced by his increasing television work.

Dasmunshi wants Bhutia to play on till the Asian Games in Doha this December.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Sandip Nandy (Mahindra United), Subrata Paul (Mohun Bagan) and Subhasis Roy Chaudhary (Mahindra United)

Defenders: Surukumar Singh (Mahindra United), N.S. Manju (Mahindra United), Deepak Mondal (Mohun Bagan), Samir Naik (Dempo Sports Club), Anupam Sarkar (East Bengal), Narinder Singh (Jagatjit Cotton Textile Mills), N.P. Pradeep (Mahindra United) and Sanjiv Maria (Mohun Bagan)

Midfielders: Steven Dias (Mahindra United), Mehrajuddin Wadoo (Mohun Bagan), Manjit Singh (Bengal), P. Renedy Singh (JCT) and Micky Fernandes (Salgaocar SC)

Forwards: S. Rahim Nabi (East Bengal), Fredy Mascarnhas (East Bengal), Sunil Chhetri (JCT) and Bhaichung Bhutia (captain, Mohun Bagan)

Support staff: Bob Houghton (chief coach), Alfonso Maricio Milagres (assistant coach), Antonio Marcos Pacheco (goal-keepers' coach), Manbendra Bhattacharya (team doctor), Tapan Bhattacharya (physiotherapist) and Pradeep Choudhury (manager)