Experienced forward Danish Mujtaba was today named captain of the Indian hockey team for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Invitational Tournament even as senior drag-flicker Sandeep Singh was relegated to the standbys list for the March 6 to 17 event in Malaysia.
Hockey India selector Syed Ali, chief coach Michael Nobbs and exercise physiologist Jason Konrath alongwith government observer Harbinder Singh selected the list of 18 players with eight standbys on the basis of their recent performance in the ongoing inaugural season of Hero Hockey India League.
Sandeep, who is the top goal-scorer in the HIL, had been named a standby in the squad for the Hero Hockey World League Round 2 to be held here from February 18 to 24.
At the Azlan Shah, goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh will be the vice-captain of the squad which has eight forwards, five mid-fielders and three defenders.
The Squad:
Goal keepers: P.R. Sreejesh (vice-captain), Sushant Tirkey
Fullbacks: Rupinderpal Singh, Harbir Singh, Gurjinder Singh.
Half-backs: Amit Rohidas, Gurmail Singh, Manpreet Singh, Kothajit Singh Khadangbam, M.B. Aiyappa.
Forwards: Danish Mujtaba (captain), Nithin Thimmaiah, Satbir Singh, Mandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Dharamvir Singh, Gurvinder Singh Chandi.
Standbys: Keshav Dutt (goalkeeper), Sandeep Singh (defender), Pardeep Mor (midfielder), Surender Kumar (midfielder), Malak Singh (forward), Imran Khan (forward), Amon Mirash Tirkey (forward), Siddarth Shanker (forward).