Sreejesh rested, Sardar to lead experimental squad in Ipoh

Talismanic midfielder Sardar Singh will lead an experimental 18-member India hockey team, which will be without as many as seven players including senior goalkeeper and vice-captain PR Sreejesh, in the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup to be held in Ipoh, Malaysia next month.

The move to leave out seven players from the Hockey World League Final squad was taken keeping in mind the Olympics as Hockey India selectors wanted to give phase-wise rest to all the senior players, who are expected to form the core of the Rio-bound team. Apart from Sreejesh, the most notable omission from the Azlan Shah-bound squad are striker Akashdeep Singh, midfielder Dharamvir, drag-flicker Raghunath and ace defender Birendra. Devinder Walmiki and Lalit Upadahyay were the other two players who were not picked.