SYDNEY, May 21: Troy Elder's year exile from the Australian field hockey team ended on Sunday when he was recalled for next month's Azlan Shah trophy in Kuala Lumpur.

The dual Olympian and Athens gold medallist was suspended for 12 months by Hockey Australia after he opted to play for his Dutch club rather than for Australia in an early-season tournament last year.

Elder missed Australia's triumphs at the Champions Trophy and the Melbourne Commonwealth Games as a result.

But Elder is back in the fold as Australia begin their bid to claim this year's World Cup and complete the Olympic, World Cup and Champions Trophy treble.

“We're looking for Troy to play a role in our World Cup campaign,” coach Barry Dancer said in a statement on Sunday.

“The next two tournaments we are looking for Troy to re-establish himself in the side for World Cup selection.”Elder will make his return for Australia's defence of the Azlan Shah trophy in Kuala Lumpur from June 18-25 – the same tournament he missed last year to cause his suspension.

Australia will then aim to defend their Champions Trophy title in Spain from July 22-30 before competing in the World Cup in Germany in September.

Squad: Michael Boyce, Travis Brooks, Liam De Young, Luke Doerner, Nathan Eglington, Troy Elder, David Guest, Rob Hammond, Aaron Hopkins, Mark Knowles, Stephen Lambert, Brent Livermore, Russell Ford, Daniel McPherson, Matt Naylor, Eddie Ockenden, Grant Schubert, Matthew Wells.—AFP

Opinion

Editorial

On press freedoms
Updated 03 May, 2026

On press freedoms

THE citizenry forgets, to its own peril, how important a free and independent media is in the preservation of their...
Inflation strain
03 May, 2026

Inflation strain

PAKISTAN’S return to double-digit inflation after 21 months signals renewed economic strain where external shocks...
Troubled waters
03 May, 2026

Troubled waters

PAKISTAN’S water crisis is often framed in terms of scarcity. Increasingly, it is also a crisis of contamination....
Iran stalemate
Updated 02 May, 2026

Iran stalemate

THE US and Iran are currently somewhere between war and peace. While a tenuous ceasefire — extended largely due to...
Tax shortfall
02 May, 2026

Tax shortfall

THE Rs684bn shortfall in tax collection during the first 10 months of the fiscal year is a continuation of a...
Teaching inclusion
02 May, 2026

Teaching inclusion

DISCRIMINATORY and exclusionary content in Punjab’s textbooks has been flagged in Inclusive Education for a United...