New Delhi

Harmanpreet Singh has returned to lead the Indian men’s hockey team for the European leg of the FIH Pro League next month, as India named a 24-member squad for the crucial preparatory tour ahead of the Hockey World Cup in August.

The ace drag-flicker had missed the Hobart leg of the Pro League in February due to personal reasons.

India will begin the tour with a short training camp and a friendly match in Brussels from June 7 to 9. The team will then travel to Rotterdam for Pro League matches against Germany men's national field hockey team and Netherlands men's national field hockey team between June 14 and 21.

The Indian side will subsequently move to London, where it will face Pakistan men's national field hockey team and England men's national field hockey team from June 23 to 28.

The squad combines experienced campaigners with emerging talent as the team fine-tunes preparations for the World Cup, scheduled to begin on August 15.

Harmanpreet will marshal the defence alongside experienced players such as Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh and Jugraj Singh, while youngster Amandeep Lakra has also been included.

The midfield will feature senior stars Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad alongside Raj Kumar Pal.

India’s attack will be spearheaded by forwards Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek and Selvam Karthi.

Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak, forwards Araijeet Singh Hundal and Maninder Singh, defender Poovanna Chandura Boby and midfielder Vishnu Kant Singh have been named as standbys.

Chief coach Craig Fulton said the squad was shaping up well ahead of the demanding European assignments.

“Training has been going really well and the squad is in great shape. The FIH Pro League matches in Holland and England are exactly what we need — tough tests against world-class opposition that will tell us exactly where we stand in our World Cup preparations,” he said.

India Squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Amandeep Lakra, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh

Midfielders: Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem

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Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi