Cold and hot: P. Saravanan - not up to the mark (The Malay Mail)

IT was not a happy return to Malaysia on Saturday for Kuala Lumpur sweeper
P. Saravanan (right) after the national team's impressive playing tour of
the United Arab Emirates.
Upon landing in Kuala Lumpur, Saravanan was told by national coach Abdul
Rahman Ibrahim that he was not required to rejoin the team on Thursday for
training.
That dashed Saravanan's dreams of making his international debut for
Malaysia in the Dunhill Cup in Vietnam later this month.
Though disappointed, the 25-year-old admitted he did not perform well in
Dubai where the young national team played three friendlies.
In the first match, Malaysia lost 2-0 to FC Ventspils of Latvia with
Saravanan only coming in the last quarter of the game.
The lanky Saravanan started among the first 11 in the second match
against Al-Ahli FC and played for about 75 minutes before he was replaced.
Malaysia triumphed 4-3. He did not play in the final match against Al-
Shabab which Malaysia won 1-0.
Saravanan, who has played for the national Under-18 and Under-19 youth
teams under M. Karathu and Richard Bates, said: "I was not at my best
during the tour.
"I had problems playing my role as I was up against experienced players.
I was not commanding enough and probably that's the reason I have been
left out."
Saravanan probably found it hard to cope with an unfamiliar system that
required him to play with just two other defenders due to a five-man
midfield.
Saravanan said Rahman told him that although he was not in the coach's
plans for the Dunhill Cup, he will be called up for future national
training from time to time before the Brunei SEA Games.
"Of course, I am disappointed to have been left out. But I have gained
much from the national stint and the UAE tour was certainly a good
experience for me as we played against fast opponents."
The exclusion of Saravanan should pave the way for Khairul Anuar Baharum
- the other sweeper used in the UAE stint - to feature in the Dunhill Cup.
Rahman also has another option in B. Rajinkandh although he is being
used as a midfielder.
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