All Leave out Sandeep, Adrian

The national selectors on Saturday dropped drag flicker and former captain Sandeep Singh along with seasoned goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza and midfielder Vikram Pillay, as they named the team for the 19th Azlan Shah Cup, to be played at Ipoh, Malaysia from May 6-16.

Hockey India selectors also left out drag flicker Diwakar Ram and forward Gurvinder Singh Chandi from the squad that played the World Cup. They, however, recalled former captain Prabodh Tirkey, midfielder Ravi Pal Singh and goalkeeper Bharat Chetri, all tried and tested and dumped in the past.

Among the newcomers are Amit Prabhakar of Air India, Rupinder Pal Singh of Indian Oil and Vikas Pillay of Air India.

HI also decided to clip the wings of chief coach, Jose Brasa, and put in place a core group comprising Brasa, Indian coaches – Harendra Singh, Clarence Lobo and Gundeep Kumar – along with captain Rajpal Singh to decide team composition.