Nepal’s men’s national football team head coach Matt Ross on Monday announced his final 23-member squad for the upcoming international fixtures against Hong Kong and Laos.

Nepal will take on Hong Kong in a friendly match on June 5 before facing Laos in an Asian Cup qualification match scheduled for June 10. The national team will depart for Hong Kong on Tuesday and will travel to Laos following the friendly.

Veteran goalkeeper Kiran Kumar Chemjong has been named team captain. He is joined by Bishal Sunar and Deep Karki in the goalkeeping department.

The defensive lineup includes Ananta Tamang, Bimal Panday, Sanish Shrestha, Suman Shrestha, Sumit Shrestha, Abhishek Limbu and Yogesh Gurung.

In midfield, coach Ross has called up Rohit Chand, Laken Limbu, Mani Kumar Lama, Ayush Ghalan, Srijan Raj Gautam, Manish Dangi, Kritish Ratna Chhunju, Arik Bista and Kushal Deuba.

The attacking unit features Anjan Bista, Gillespye Jung Karki, Rohan Karki and Subash Thakuri Bam.

Ross is expected to test tactical options in the Hong Kong friendly before deploying a more settled starting XI against Laos in the crucial qualifier.