THE national hockey team will finally hit the pitch for a tour after almost two years when they head to the United Kingdom for friendly matches from Sept 19- Oct 22.
The 23-member squad will play ten matches — four against club sides and two each against Ireland, Wales and France.
National team management committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Najmi Abdul Razak said the friendly matches will allow coach Arul Selvaraj to gauge his players' progress ahead of the 2022 Asia Cup and the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.
Arul said the tour will offer him the platform to test new strategies.
"We could not get quality matches here, so we are heading to the UK to play against foreign teams.
"We will play four matches against clubs and two games each against Wales, France and Ireland.
"These matches will help us improve our world ranking.
"My trainees have been working out in the gym for the tour. They have also been learning strategies and will test them during the tour," said Arul.
THE SQUAD — Goalkeepers: Hafizuddin Othman, Adrian Andy Albert, Hairi Abdul Rahman;
Defenders: Razie Rahim, Marhan Jalil, Syed Syafiq Syed Cholan, Aminuddin Zain, Azri Hassan, Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Shafiq Hassan;
Midfielders: Nik Aiman Nik Rozemi, Faiz Helmi Jali, Ramadan Rosli, Ashran Hamsani, Meor Azuan Hassan, Zulpidaus Mizun, Najib Abu Hassan, Faizal Saari;
Forwards: Norsyafiq Sumantri, Firhan Ashaari, Shahril Saabah, Shello Silverius, Azrai Aizad Abu Kamal.