Anwar Ali injury update: Indian defender unlikely to feature in India vs Maldives friendly and AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

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Anwar Ali injury update: India's upcoming international window could see the absence of key defender Anwar Ali, as East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon updated his injury following the team's match against Arkadag.

Ahead of East Bengal's AFC Cup clash against the Turkmenistan side, Bruzon had already hinted at concerns over Anwar's fitness. The Spanish tactician revealed that the defender was dealing with a hamstring issue, which required further evaluation to determine the extent of the damage.

"Tomorrow we will do the MRI. We will understand much better the scope of this injury, but it looks like it has appeared on the hamstring. So he feels pain even while walking. So my guess is that we are going to miss Anwar Ali at least for a couple of weeks," Bruzon had said.

Anwar was subbed off in the 32nd minute due to the injury during an ISL clash against Bengaluru FC last Sunday on 2nd March.

The Indian international was subsequently absent as East Bengal suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against Arkadag on Wednesday. The Kolkata club struggled defensively in his absence, conceding the only goal of the match in the second half. The result leaves East Bengal in a difficult position in their AFC Cup campaign, making Anwar's injury an even bigger blow.

Following the match, Bruzon further confirmed that Anwar is unlikely to be available for India's upcoming fixtures. The 23-year-old centre-back was expected to be in the squad for the international friendlies against Maldives on March 19 and Bangladesh on March 25, the latter being an AFC Asian Cup third-round qualification fixture. However, Bruzon all but ruled out his participation.

"He is 90% out of the upcoming national team window," the East Bengal coach told reporters after the match.

If Anwar Ali is indeed sidelined for the March friendlies, it will be a setback for Indian head coach Manolo Marquez, who would have preferred having one of his defensive mainstays. India will now have to look for defensive alternatives as they prepare for their upcoming assignments.

With a crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifying fixture on the horizon, the focus will now be on Anwar's recovery and whether he can regain fitness in time for the later stages of India's campaign. For East Bengal, his absence could also prove costly as they navigate a crucial phase of their season.