KUALA LUMPUR: It is a dream come true for teenager Azimuddin Kamaruddin who will be making his international debut in the Sultan Azlan Shah (SAS) Cup which begins tomorrow in Ipoh.
The forward was among the 18 players named by national selectors after a friendly match against South Korea tonight, which Malaysia lost 2-1 at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh.
The 18-year-old Azimuddin, who also impressed in training, has shown his ability to score goals from penalty corners.
Goalkeeper Che Sharul Che Saupi, 22, who helped Malaysia win a silver medal in the Hockey 5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman in January, will also feature internationally for the first time in a field hockey tournament.
National head coach Sarjit Singh was also impressed with Che Sharul's performance in the friendly matches against New Zealand and South Korea.
The other players who will compete for the first time in the SAS Cup are defender Syarman Mat Tee, midfielder Alfarico Lance Liau, and forwards Akhimullah Anuar Esook and Muhajir Abdu Rauf.
Defender Marhan Jalil, 34, who has 302 international appearances, is named as the captain. Forward Faizal Saari, 33, who will lead the strikeforce, is the second highest with 285 caps.
His brother, Fitri, 31, with 172 caps, will marshall the midfield.
Defender
Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan, who last played for Malaysia in 2022, was also named for the SAS Cup.
World No. 13 Malaysia, who edged Olympics- bound New Zealand 3-2 in a friendly on Wednesday, will open their campaign against world No. 15 Pakistan on Saturday.
The other teams in the fray are three times champions and world No. 11 South Korea and world No. 16 Japan and world No.19 Canada.
The Malaysian squad:
Goalkeepers: Hafizuddin Othman, Che Sharul Che Saupi
Defenders: Marhan Jalil, Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan, Amirul
Hamizan Azhar, Shafiq Hassan, Najib Abu Hassan, Syarman Mat Tee
Midfielders: Fitri Saari, Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi, Shello Silverius, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Alfarico Lance Liau
Forwards: Faizal Saari, Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal, Muhajir Abdu Rauf, Akhimullah Anuar Esook, Azimuddin Syakir Kamaruddin