26 shortlisted for World Cup qualifier

The Indian Hockey Federation on Friday shortlisted 26 players for the national team, which will take part in the forthcoming World Cup qualifier in Scotland, the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia and the tours of Australia and New Zealand.

IHF president K P S Gill told reporters in Bangalore the national team has a crowded schedule over the next three months, and the federation's objective is to send a very good side to each of the tournaments.

Of the 38 players at the Bangalore camp, 26 were shortlisted for the Australia and New Zealand tours, from June 5 to 25, and the World Cup qualifier at Edinburgh, Scotland, from July 4 to 29.

At least three senior players -- Dhanraj Pillay, Mukesh Kumar and Sabu Varkey -- do not figure in the 26-member list but have been included in the camp for the Azlan Shah tournament, to be held in Malaysia from July 30 to August 13.

On Pillay's non-inclusion, Gill said: "He has been nursing an injury but will be put to test in the camp, to be held for three weeks from July 5, for the Malaysian tournament."

Responding to a query that Mukesh Kumar had reportedly announced his retirement after the Sydney Olympics, Gill said the Olympian had written a letter to the IHF saying he may reconsider his decision to quit if his fitness permits.

Gill informed that the IHF is yet to receive a response from the sport's world body, FIH, about its bid to host next year's Champions Trophy.

Following are the 26 players short-listed for the Australia and New Zealand tours and World Cup qualifier:

Goalkeepers: Jude Menezes, Devesh Chauhan, Bharat Chetri.
Defenders: Dilip Tirkey, Dinesh Naik, Lazarus Barla, Jugraj Singh, Kanwalpreet Singh.
Midfielders: Baljit Singh Saini, S Thirumalvalavan, Radhakrishnan, Arjun Halappa, S S Gill, Inderjeet Singh, Bipin Fernandez, M K Prakash, Bimal Lakra, Paramjeet Singh.
Forwards: Deepak Thakur, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Daljit Singh, Tejbir Singh, Prabjoth Singh, Gagan Ajit Singh, Baljeet Singh Chandi, Jegan Senthil.
Out of these 26 players, 13 are juniors, who will form the nucleus of the team for the Junior World Cup, to be held at Hobart in October this year.

A 21-member team would be selected later this month for the Australia and New Zealand tour.

The national team will play three matches in Australia against the Australian Institute of Sports team, which has nine current Australian players, and a five-match Test series against the national team of New Zealand.

An 18-member team will then proceed to England on July 4 for a training camp there and will play matches against Spain, England and France.

This team will later proceed to Scotland for the World Cup qualifier on July 12 for five days of acclimatising and playing two low intensity matches on July 13 and 14 against Canada and Poland before embarking for the qualifier matches from July 17.