PETALING JAYA: Kelantan skipper Mohd Badhri Radzi has been called up for trials with the national team for the friendly against Saudi Arabia on March 17.

The midfielder last played for the national team in a friendly against Chelsea during the English Premier League club’s pre-season tour here in 2011.

The other notable player back in the reckoning is Terengganu striker Abdul Manaf Mamat, who was also named by national coach Datuk K. Rajagopal in the 27-man squad for trials at Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya from Monday.

The national team are preparing for the Asian Cup qualifying Group D match against Yemen in Kuala Lumpur on March 22.

Malaysia, who lost 2-0 to Qatar in the opening round match last month, have been pitted with Qatar, Bahrain and Yemen in Group D for the 2015 Asian Cup tournament.

A total of 20 teams have been divided into five groups. The top two teams from each group and the best third-placed team will qualify for the tournament proper in Australia in 2015.

Asian Cup 2011 winners Japan, hosts and runners-up Australia, third-placed South Korea, AFC Challenge Cup 2012 winners North Korea and the champions of the 2014 AFC Challenge Cup will get direct berths in the Finals.

Meanwhile, the national team are expected to play Palestine in a match to raise funds for Palestine at the Darul Makmur Stadium in Kuantan on March 26.

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