Ashraf presses for the inclusion of youngsters

Azlan Shah Cup best time to inject newcomers, says hockey captain.

KARACHI:

Pakistan hockey captain Zeeshan Ashraf has said that including youngsters in the team for the forthcoming Azlan Shah Cup will be important to prepare an ideal combination for the 2012 Olympics.

Ashraf, who led Pakistan to the Asian Games’ gold medal triumph last November, felt that the tournament, that begins on May 5, provides an ideal opportunity to test talented young players. The selection committee, while naming probables for the five-nation event, has included nine top performing players from the recently concluded National Championship and Youth Olympics.

The captain said youngsters will be closely monitored during the month-long training camp for the upcoming tournament in Malaysia.

“The Azlan Shah Cup will be the best time to inject young players in the team,” Ashraf told The Express Tribune. “With over a year left for the Olympics, youngsters who will find their place in the squad will get ample time to adjust before the event.”

The captain felt that players with vast experience should not be an automatic choice for selection. “Players with the best fitness and performance should be selected irrespective of whether they are juniors or seniors,” said Ashraf.

Fears of rustiness dismissed

Pakistan will be taking part in an international event after a gap of over five months due to the postponement of the series against Egypt and the cancellation against India. But the captain dismissed any concerns of rustiness.

“It is not a big concern because the players were busy playing domestic tournaments during the gap,” he said before promising tough drills in the training camp.

“We’ll remove rustiness, if there is any, in the training camp,” said Ashraf. “There will be no let-up for the players.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.