KUALA LUMPUR: Skipper Marhan Jalil will return to spearhead Malaysia at the Hockey World Cup in India from Jan 13-29.
The defender, who has 278 international caps, was out of action after suffering a foot injury during a playing tour in Europe in September.
Marhan missed the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh last month and the Nations Cup in South Africa early this month.
This will be his third consecutive World Cup since the Hague edition in 2014.
Striker Shahril Saabah, with 185 international caps, has recovered from a knee injury and has been named for his second World Cup.
Striker Shello Silverius, who had arm surgery on Dec 7, has also been given the green light to make his debut in the World Cup.
Razie Rahim with 306 caps, will marshal the Malaysian defence and go for goals from penalty corners.
National coach Arul Selvaraj has named 18 players plus two stand-by players (Tengku Nasrul Ikmal Hakimie Tengku Abdul Rahim and Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi) for the World Cup.
"The return of Marhan and Shahril will definitely boost the team as they are key players," he said.
Arul said he put the 20-year-old Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi on standby because he has the potential.
The final squad of 18 players:
Goalkeepers: Hafizuddin Othman, Adrian Andy Albert
Defenders: Razie Rahim, Marhan Jalil, Najmi Farizal Jazlan, Zulpidaus Mizun, Aminuddin Zain, Amirul Hamizan Azahar.
Midfielders: Meor Azuan Hassan, Faiz Helmi Jali, Firhan Ashari, Ashran Hamsani, Najib Abu Hassan.
Forwards: Faizal Saari, Shahril Saabah, Norsyafiq Sumantri, Ramadan Rosli, Shello Silverius.
Standby players: Tengku Nasrul Ikmal Hakimie Tengku Abdul Rahim, Shahmie Irfan Suhaimi.