Syed Syafiq makes way for Izad

THERE will only be one change when national chief coach Stephen van Huizen names his final 18 today for the World League Semifinals.

Syed Syafiq Cholan will be replaced by Izad Hakimi, while the 17 others, who beat India 1-0 in the Azlan Shah Cup, will attempt to finish among the top-seven in London to qualify for the World Cup.

The World League Semifinals will be held 12 days from today, on June 15-25 in London and is a qualifier for the 2018 World Cup in India.

The list of 18, posted on the International Hockey Federation (FIH) website, will see the most experienced player in goalkeeper S. Kumar leading the assault.

Kumar has 274 international caps, and vast experience playing in nerve-wracking tournaments to keep Malaysia afloat.

In the Azlan Shah Cup, where Malaysia finished fifth among six teams, Kumars’s saves saved the nation from heavy defeats.

In London, Malaysia are in Group A with World No 1 Argentina, England, South Korea and China. In Group B are the Netherlands, India, Pakistan, Canada and Scotland.

Malaysia need to win at least two matches, possibly against South Korea and China, to play in the quarter-finals and keep their hopes alive.

The fifth placed team in each group will be out of the running for the World Cup.

MALAYSIA: S. Kumar (GK) (274), Hafizuddin Othman (GK) (37), Sukri Mutalib (C) (257), Haziq Samsul (54), Marhan Jalil (186), Fitri Shaari (91), Faizal Shaari (170), Firhan Ashaari (107), Nabil Fiqri (179), Razie Rahim (205), Faiz Helmi Jali (89), Azri Hassan (46), Azuan Hasan (72), Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin (218), Aiman Nik Rosemi (37), Najmi Jazlan (31), Shahril Saabah (66), Izad Hakimi (82). Note: International caps in parentheses. Jugjet Singh