KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- Three Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) players have been released from the Harimau Malaya squad ahead of the national team's Tier 1 international friendly against India in Hyderabad on Monday (Nov 18).
The three players released at the request of JDT are defenders Matthew Davies and Muhammad Feroz Baharudin as well as winger Arif Aiman Mohd Hanapi, thus leaving just 23 players departing for India.
The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) said that JDT made the request ahead of their Malaysia Cup first-round match against Kuala Lumpur Rovers FC on Wednesday (Nov 20).
FAM said that since the Harimau Malaya squad will only return home on Wednesday morning, the three JDT players won't be able to make it in time for the Malaysia Cup match.
"However, another JDT player, goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed is in the 23-man Harimau Malaya squad, who will leave for Hyderabad from Bangkok tonight,” FAM said in a statement today.
Malaysia, under the guidance of head coach Pau Marti Vicente, will take on India at the Gachibowli Stadium looking for another victory after their 3-1 win over Laos in another Tier 1 international friendly at the PAT Stadium in Bangkok on Thursday (Nov 14).
The matches against Laos and India this month are part of coach Vicente's plan to prepare the team for the 2024 ASEAN Championship next month.
-- BERNAMA
