Indian team departs for Azlan Shah

Special Correspondent

The Indian men’s hockey team left in the wee hours of Saturday for the Sultan Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia with an eye on broadening the talent base in the country.

The team is led by first-time captain Danish Mujtaba — 11 of the 18 players in the squad are youngsters — who was picked in order to gain crucial international experience ahead of the junior World Cup in December later this year. Besides India, the other teams in the fray are Pakistan, Australia, Korea, New Zealand and host Malaysia.

“We are trying to build a pool of players who are all equally good, creating a problem of plenty for the selectors. The squad for the Azlan Shah tournament was selected with three targets in mind — exposure for youngsters, much-needed rest for the seniors who have been playing non-stop since November last, and formation of a core group of decision-makers from among the players,” coach Michael Nobbs said before departure.

The players will be accompanied by junior India coach Baljit Singh Saini.

Nobbs made it clear that winning the tournament would not be easy, adding it was not a priority either. He admitted that the junior and senior players in the team were used to playing different styles of hockey, and one of the aims was to bring about greater cohesion in their styles.

“In terms of fitness also there is a gap. A competitive field will help us gauge the youngsters’ match fitness,” Nobbs said.

Danish, one of the key members of the senior team, admitted it was tiring to play non-stop for so long, but was excited to lead a young side.

“Being captain gives you more responsibility. I come from a family of hockey players, but the first to captain India. So, yes, there is pressure,” he said.

The tournament will be played in Ipoh from March 9 to 17.