KUALA LUMPUR: Europe-based Dion Cools will not be part of Malaysia's squad for the AFF Cup.
Cools, a defender, had been named as one of four captains for the tournament, which starts on Dec 20.
Personal problems were cited for his exclusion.
Coach Kim Pan Gon announced the 23-member squad today. Harimau Malaya are in Group B with Vietnam, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos.
Malaysia will take on Myanmar in their opening match in Yangon on Dec 21. Pan Gon's side will depart for Yangon on Monday.
Apart from Cools, the other trainees dropped from the squad are goalkeeper Azri Ghani, Kogileswaran Raj, Ramadhan Saifullah Usman and Aliff Izwan Yuslan.
Among the new faces are Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar, Aliff Haiqal Lokman Hakim Lau, Stuart Wilkin, David Rowley, Lee Tuck, Sergio Aguero, Nur Shamie Iszuan Amin and Haqimi Azim Rosli.
After Myanmar, Harimau Malaya will host Laos in Bukit Jalil on Dec 24 before flying to Hanoi to face Vietnam three days later.
Pan Gon's side will end their group campaign against Singapore in Bukit Jalil on Jan 3.
Defending champions Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Brunei and the Philippines make up Group A.
Only the top two teams in each group will qualify for the semi-finals.
Malaysia's only AFF Cup victory was achieved in 2010.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Kalamullah Al-Hafiz Mat Rowi, Syihan Hazmi, Rahadiazli Rahalim;
Defenders: Khuzaimi Piee, Sharul Nazeem Zulpakar, Azam Azmi Murad, Dominic Tan, Quentin Cheng, Fazly Mazlan;
Midfielders: Brendan Gan, Mukhairi Ajmal Mahadi, David Rowley, Stuart Wilkin, Aliff Haiqal Lokman Hakim Lau, V. Ruventhiran, Shamie Iszuan Amin, Nor Hakim Hassan;
Forwards: Darren Lok, Lee Tuck, Safawi Rasid, Faisal Halim, Haqimi Azim, Sergio Aguero.