KUALA LUMPUR: 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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 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. This decision leaves just 23 players departing for India. The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) stated that JDT made the request prior to their Malaysia Cup first-round match against Kuala Lumpur Rovers FC on Wednesday.

FAM noted that since the Harimau Malaya squad will only return home on Wednesday morning, the three JDT players won’t be able to participate in the Malaysia Cup match. However, goalkeeper Ahmad Syihan Hazmi Mohamed from JDT remains in the 23-man Harimau Malaya squad, set to leave for Hyderabad from Bangkok tonight.

Under the leadership of head coach Pau Marti Vicente, Malaysia will face India at the Gachibowli
Stadium. The team aims for another victory following their 3-1 win over Laos in a previous Tier 1 international friendly at the PAT Stadium in Bangkok. These matches against Laos and India form part of coach Vicente’s strategy to prepare the team for the upcoming 2024 ASEAN Championship.