The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is trying to add four "good footballers" to the squad for the Hangzhou Asian Games, The Telegraph has learnt. The AIFF released an 18-member — 17 and later in the night one more player — on Wednesday with captain Sunil Chhetri being the only known face.

According to sources, the federation now wants to make the squad as competitive as possible, hence the last-minute push for four players. The tournament rules say a participating team can register a minimum of 18 and a maximum of 22 footballers but they have to be from the long list of 50 submitted earlier.

"We have decided to give it a try," someone in the know of things told The Telegraph on Thursday. Friday is the last day to send the final list of players.

Captain Chhetri and senior national team coach Igor Stimac spoke over the phone "five to six times" on Thursday, it has been learnt.

Stimac, the sources said, is expected to meet top AIFF officials on Friday and a lot would depend on the outcome of the meeting. "If he doesn't get those four players, he may not travel to Hangzhou," another source said.

The AIFF was forced to name an inexperienced side after the major clubs refused to release players citing their commitment to ISL-X which begins on September 21. Teams like Mumbai City FC (Asian Champions League), Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Odisha FC (AFC Cup) will be busy with Asian club competitions from next week.

The Indian squad, which leaves for Hangzhou on Saturday, play their first match on September 19 against China.

Multiple sources said Stimac is not happy with the way the clubs had left the national team high and dry.

"He finds this humiliating. There is a concerted effort to undermine him. First, he was forced to climb down from his stance of a competitive team for the Asiad by agreeing to have two from each ISL club and then they refused to release those too. Clubs cannot hold the national team to ransom," a source who is following the developments closely said.

"The argument is that ISL is clashing with the Asian Games. But can three-four matches decide the fate of any team in a marathon league? Also, there is a Super Six so a team will always have the chance to come back into the reckoning," he reasoned.

"Do not be surprised if Stimac resigns. That's what some people who are jealous of his popularity want."