Israeli basketball was rocked this weekend by the announcement that national team stars Lior Lubin and captain Gur Shelef had been axed by coach Muli Katzurin just two weeks before the European Championships.

Katzurin dropped the man who had been considered a certainty to play point guard, Lubin, apparently because of fitness concerns and then showed Shelef the door for criticising his decision.

Israel have been on the receiving end of some of their games in recent days, failing to win in Strasbourg and then losing heavily in Slovenia.

They won a behind-close-doors game against an understrength Slovenia before returning home to continue their preparations.

But Katzurin’s decision has no doubt rattled the sport as both players are big contributors for European powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv and were considered vital members of the team.

Katzurin has frequently turned to young point guard Yotam Halperin in games this summer because of the out-of-sorts Lubin.

Israel now depart for the Akropolis tournament in Greece, where Katzurin has most certainly has his work cut out to rally the troops.

Forward Yoav Saffar, another Maccabi Tel Aviv player, has been made captain.

It is understood that Erez Katz, a 23-year-old Hapoel Jerusalem guard, and his clubmate Moshe Mizrahi, also 23, have been called into the squad and will travel to Greece.