Chetri named skipper

Sandeep Singh and Sardar Singh, banned for two years and then reprieved following an apology, have been included in the Indian team’s tour to Australia next month.

Bharat Chetri was named captain of the 22-member team which will play in a four-nation nine-a-side international super series followed by a three nation-tournament involving Australia and Pakistan.

Sandeep and Sardar were banned on disciplinary grounds when they left a conditioning camp without permission of chief coach Michael Nobbs. They subsequently tendered an unconditional apology and were included in the camp with their selection being subject to fitness.

This is the first time that 27-year-old Chetri, with 114 International caps will lead the country.

The other teams in the four-nation series, to be played from Oct. 20 to 23 at Perth, are Pakistan, New Zealand and Australia.

India will begin its tour with a match against Australia ‘A’ on Oct. 17 and will then take on New Zealand the next day before embarking on its maiden nine-a-side tournament.

India will also play an international tournament after the super series with Australia and Pakistan as the other teams.

The team:

Goalkeepers: Bharat Chetri (captain) and P. R. Sreejesh; Defenders: Manjit Kullu, Rupinderpal Singh, V. R. Raghunath and Sandeep Singh; Midfielders: IIgnace Tirkey (vice-captain), Gurbaj Singh, VikasSharma, Manpreet Singh, Vikram Pillay, Arjun Halappa and Sardar Singh. Forwards: Danish Mujtaba, Ravi Pal, Sarvanjit Singh, Rajpal Singh, Yuvraj Valmiki, S. V. Sunil, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Tushar Khandker and Bharat Chhikara. Standbys: Nanak Singh (goalkeeper), Birendra Lakra (midfielder), Mandip Antil (forward), Chinglingsana (forward) and Roshan Minz (forward).