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Ashique Kuruniyan allegedly left the national team on Tuesday without having the full degree of his condition confirmed after suffering an ACL tear during India's King's Cup loss to Iraq on September 7. The same has dissatisfied Mohun Bagan Super Giant, who are currently debating whether or not to release Liston Colaco for the Asian Games.
In the King's Cup semi-final match, Rahim Ali had to take Ashique Kuruniyan's place after 57 minutes because of an injury. Kuruniyan also missed India's September 10 third-place 0-1 loss to Lebanon.
Mohun Bagan SG claimed that the medical professionals of the national team had not adequately looked into the nature of the illness. Ashique and other players are expected to return to India on Tuesday night, when they will begin training with their respective clubs in preparation for the Indian Super League. Ashique was reportedly sent back to the club when the Indian team's medical staff declined to do even a basic MRI on him, claiming that the issue wasn't major.
Additionally, Mohun Bagan is dissatisfied with how the treatment of Ashique's injury was handled. Liston Colaco has been invited to go on national duty for the Asian Games, therefore, Mohun Bagan indicated they would think twice before releasing him.
Anwar Ali is also chosen for the continental competition from the Mohun Bagan SG. However, due to their crucial AFC Cup group stage away encounter with Odisha FC on September 19, Mohun Bagan, like all other Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, is hesitant to make a decision over their first-choice defender.
Mohun Bagan will face Punjab FC on September 23 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan to kick off their 2023–24 ISL season following the AFC Cup encounter. In such a busy schedule, Ashique getting hurt while serving his country would be a major setback, and the Mariners lament that they would now have to take care of him.
