IANS
New Delhi, Jul 8: A 23-member Indian hockey team led by Sandeep Singh will embark on a 12-Test European tour starting July 27.
The team will play four Tests against England, and three each against Belgium and Spain at Birmingham, Antwerp and Terassa, respectively.
Their last stop in the 25-day tour will be Amstelveen where they will take on Holland in two tests before flying back home.
Veteran Dilip Tirkey will miss the tour due to an ankle injury.
Midfielders Ignace Tirkey and Dhananjay Mahadhik have been included in the team that was announced by Hockey India Tuesday.
In the forward line, Shivendra Singh, Bharat Chikara, Ravi Pal Singh and Birendra Lakra have returned to the side.
This will the team's first tour under the new chief coach Spaniard Jose Brasa.
The team is currently training in Pune.
In their last international outing, the Indian team finished fifth in the Asia Cup in Kuantan, Malaysia.
Team:
Goalkeepers: Adrian D'Souza, Baljit Singh
Defenders
Sandeep Singh (Captain), V. Raghunath
Midfielders: Gurbaj Singh, Vikram Pillay, Prabodh Tirkey, Sardar Singh, Ajitesh Roy
Ignace Tirkey, V.S. Vinaya, Dhananjay Mahadhik
Forwards: Tushar Khandker, Shivendra Singh, Rajpal Singh, Arjun Halappa, Prabhjot Singh, Gurwinder Singh Chandi, Hari Prasad, S.V. Sunil, Bharat Chikara, Ravi Pal Singh, Birendra Lakra
Officials
Chief Coach: Jose Brasa
Coach: Harendra Singh
Match Schedule:- India v England (July 27, 29, 31, Aug 2), vs Belgium (Aug 4, 5, 7), vs Spain (Aug 9, 10, 12), vs Holland (Aug 14, 16)