Shahrul Saad and Aidil Zafuan formed a formidable centre back pairing that held Malaysia's defence together enroute to finishing as runners-up of the 2018 AFF Championship after losing to Vietnam in the final last year. The same partnership is likely to be rekindled when ironically Vietnam is the next opponent for Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The 32-year-old Johor Darul Ta'zim player has not been part of the national team squad since that cup final defeat but has been recalled after a sterling season with his club as well as the less than stout combination of Shahrul and Adam Nor Azlin thus far.