Senior members Arjun Halappa and V.S. Vinaya were on Wednesday axed as Hockey India named a 22-member squad for a crucial European tour beginning July 2.
India will play a four-nation tournament in Hamburg involving Holland, Germany and Japan, followed by tests in Belgium, France and Holland.
Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh returns to the squad, as also forwards Ajitesh Roy and Hari Prasad. Striker Shivendra Singh, who injured his ankle, will miss the tour.
Promising youngster Birendra Lakra Jr gets his first look into the senior squad.
Though the coaches refuse to comment on the ‘experimental’ team picked for the tour, the move is being seen as an attempt to sideline the players who led a revolt against the federation earlier this year. Strikers Prabhjot Singh and Deepak Thakur were dropped a month back, while goalkeeper Adrian D’Souza and Halappa have been axed this time.
Said government nominee Ajitpal Singh, “This is an experimental team and not the full and final squad. There will be changes before the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
“Senior players cannot take their place for granted. We have picked new ones to keep the competition going,” he added.
Asked if chief coach Jose Brasa also agreed with the squad, he said, “This is the national team, not a club team or someone’s property. The selectors have a job to do, and they have picked a team that was best suited for this tour.”
Custodian D’Souza had opted out of the national camp a few days ago, and had instead chosen to play for his employers after being given the snub. “That is his decision and problem. I cannot comment for him,” Ajitpal said.
India will play three Tests against Belgium from July 5 to 16 and then take on France from July 17 to 21 in another three-match series. They will wind up their Europe tour with two tests against the Dutch (July 24 and 25), Hockey India said in a statement.
Interestingly, former international and set-piece specialist Jugraj Singh has been roped in to train the drag-flickers.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: P.R. Sreejesh, Bharat Chetri
Defenders: Sardar Singh, Dhananjay Mahadik, Rupinderpal Singh, Sandeep Singh, Amit Prabhakar
Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Ravi Pal, Prabodh Tirkey, Ajitesh Roy, Bharat Chikara, Danish Mujtaba, Vikas Pillay, Birendra Lakra Jr.
Forwards: Rajpal Singh, Tushar Khandker, Sarvanjit Singh, Mandip Antil, Mohd. Amir Khan, Hari Prasad, Dharamvir Singh