There was no place for Hockey India League (HIL) leading scorer Sandeep Singh in the 18-member India squad for the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Cup Invitational Tournament to be held in Malaysia March 6-17.
Hockey India (HI) picked the squad Wednesday on the basis of the performance of the players in the HIL sending a strong signal to Sandeep to reassess his international career.
Sandeep, who was a marquee player of the league, was also struggling to get a team but Mumbai Magicians bought him for a base price of $27,800.
Sandeep was also overlooked for the 18-member squad for the Hockey World League Round 2 that was picked Tuesday and was put as a stand-by. For the Azlan Shah Cup also Sandeep's name features among the stand-bys. Sandeep has been out of the national squad since India's hockey debacle at the London Olympics.
The team was picked by HI selector Syed Ali, chief coach Michael Nobbs and exercise physiologist Jason Konrath along with government observer Harbinder Singh.
The team will be led by forward Danish Mujtaba while Goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh will be the vice-captain.
The squad:
Goalkeepers: 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).