Project 2013 squad to drop 10players after friendlies with Pakistan

KUALA LUMPUR:

The Project 2013 team hope to drop 10 players from their 31-man squad by the time they haveplayedall three friendlies against Pakistan.

The friendlies will begin today and end on Monday.

The Project squad are preparing for the Junior Asia Cup, which will be held in Malacca from May 3-13.

Apart from the friendlies against Pakistan, the Project squad also have another four matches lined up against South Korea from April 14-18 and two more against the Australian Country team on April 24 and 27.

All the matches will be held at the National Hockey Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

“We have 31 players now ... we hope to drop 10 by the time we start against South Korea on April 14. The selection process is a straightforward exercise and we intend to give the fringe players more playing time so that the best is selected,” said Project squad coach K. Dharmaraj.

He also pointed out that 12 players, especially those who have trained with the senior team, are assured of their places in the Project squad.

“Basically, we are looking at about six more players from the remaining trainees.

“A lot of the fringe players will be given more playing time in the match against Pakistan.

“It is for them to put up a good showing,” he said.

“There are five goalkeepers in the team and it is likely that we will pick three for the matches against the Koreans and Australians.”

Pakistan and South Korea will be here with the teams that will feature in the Junior Asia Cup.

Inmalacca, Malaysia are in Group A with South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Iran while Group B comprises India, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.

The top four teams from the Junior Asia Cup will make the cut for the 2013 Junior World Cup.