Seven World Cup players axed

players who played in last year ’s World Cup have either been dropped or rested due to injuries as national coach Roelant Oltmans named his 18-member squad for the Azlan Shah Cup, which starts on Saturday, in Ipoh.

Former world champions India, South Korea, Japan, Poland and Canada make up the six-team tournament.

With the absence of defending champions Australia, New Zealand and England, Oltmans’ side stand a good chance of winning the tournament, which was incepted in 1983, for the first time.

Several top teams are absent due to their commitments with the Pro League.

Oltmans have included two promising youngsters Arif Syafie Ishak, 19 and Azrai Aizad Abu, 20.

Goalkeeper S. Kumar and captain Shukri Mutalib are among those on the crock list.

“It is good to note that seven players who were not in the World Cup squad will get a chance to play in the Azlan Shah Cup.

“I hope they will take this opportunity to shine as I need to create a bigger pool of quality players,” said Oltmans.

The Azlan Shah Cup will be the national team’s final test before the first leg of the Olympic qualifier on April 26-May 4 in Kuala Lumpur.

“I believe we have a good

— Hairi Rahman, Zaimi Mat Deris; — Razie Rahim, Faiz Helmi Jali, Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Arif Syafie Ishak,Luqman Nul Hakim;

— Marhan Jalil, Fitri Saari, Amirol Aideed, Meor Azuan, Ashran Hamsani, Azrai Aizad Kamal, Nik Aiman Rozemi; — Tengku Ahmad Tajuddin, Firhan Ashari, Faizal Saari, Nor Syafiq Sumantri.