KARACHI: The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy in India, starting December 6, after holding a final round of trials at the Hockey Club of Pakistan on Thursday.
Chief selector Islahuddin Siddiqui, along with selection committee members Ayaz Mahmood, Arshad Chaudhry, Khalid Bashir, Mussidiq Hussain, chief coach Shahnaz Shaikh and PHF secretary Rana Mujahid were present on the occasion.
Fullback Muhammad Imran will lead the squad along with his deputy Shafqat Rasool, who was previously said to have been rested for the event, while Rizwan Sr and Rashid Mehmood, who made it back from the league stints in Holland for the trials, were also selected.
During the team’s announcement, Director Omar Associates Nadeem Omar said he would sponsor the national team for the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, the players were invited by Governor Sindh Ishratul Ebad Khan to recognise their silver-medal performance at the Asian Games and were given a reward of Rs1 million.
On the other hand, real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain was also present during the ceremony and said he would give Rs5 million to the PHF, adding that if the team won the tournament in India, he would reward them with Rs10 million. Hussain also said that they will organise the Governor Sindh Hockey Gold Cup upon the team’s return.
The national team will have a final training session on Friday and then fly home for a three-day rest before their departure on December 2.
Squad
Muhammad Imran (captain), Shafqat Rasool (vice-captain), Imran Butt, Amjad Ali, Muhammad Irfan, Kashif Shah, Ammad Butt, Muhammad Tousiq, Rashid Mahmood, Rizwan junior, Zohaib Ashraf, Tassawar Abbas, Waqas Sharif, Umer Bhutta, Muhammad Dilber, Rizwan senior, Ali Shan and Arsalan Qadir.
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