ABU DHABI // Al Wahda will be without Dino Djulbic, the Australia centre-back, and the midfielder Adel Basulaiman, who has been suspended for six games, in the Etisalat Cup semi-final against Al Jazira on Monday.
Djulbic has joined the Socceroos national team for their World Cup qualifier against Oman on March 26, and Basulaiman starts his ban from the FA Disciplinary Committee for spitting at Mohammed Jaber, the Baniyas defender, in the 1-1 draw in the Pro League.
"Dino's absence is due to national duty but Adel's action was uncalled for and we hope he will learn from this," Abdulla Salem, the team manager, said.
"Apart from injuries, we don't want players to pick up suspensions and punishments for disciplinary reasons. He won't be available for six games and that hurts the team."
Wahda meet Jazira for the third time this season. The first meeting, in the Pro League in December, was won by Jazira 2-1 before Wahda avenged that defeat in the President's Cup by the same score last month.
"It is always a big game against Jazira," Salem said. "We would like to have all the players available and I think we have, barring Dino and Adel.
"We are 1-1 head to head this season and hopefully we can pull this one off too. The two cups are our only hope for this season as we are too far behind Al Ain in the Pro League."
The Pro League Committee yesterday announced the semi-final dates and venues after the conclusion of the group phase of the competition on Sunday.
Al Shabab, who topped Group C, will meet Ajman, whom they beat 3-1 in the final Group C game, at the Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum Stadium at 5.45pm. Wahda will host Jazira at the Al Nahyan Stadium at 8.30pm.
Shabab and Wahda are awarded home fixtures having finished top of their Groups.
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