KARACHI:
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) chief selector Hanif Khan remains optimistic about the return of the senior players to the squad providing they prove their fitness.
Following the team’s dismal performance in the World Cup held in India and the unimpressive show in the National Hockey Championship, PHF opted for youth in the Azlan Shah Cup. Khan reiterated his policy that the players for the national squad will be chosen on their performance at the training camp that will be held in Faisalabad from June 27 after the Gold Cup.
“The senior players are welcome to the camp as we never discarded them,” Khan told The Express Tribune.
“The Gold Cup is starting from June 15 and will go on until June 25. Ten days are enough for the players to show their fitness and skill. Based on this performance I will then choose the players for the upcoming European and China tours.”
Olympian Khan added that he was quite informed about the seniors and their skills so it will just be the fitness that he will be eyeing in the camp. He also kept the door open for juniors to stake a claim providing they can prove their skills in the camp as well.
“I will see the fitness of senior players because they are technically sound. I don’t have to consider the fitness levels of the juniors because they are young and have more stamina than the seniors, so I will closely observe their skills on the field.”
The PHF will finalise the dates of the European and Five Nation China Cup in a few days with the decision of a new coach also imminent.
Khan, however, has hinted that if the PHF failed to hire the services of a foreign coach by the end of this month, the junior team coach Khwaja Junaid will train the national squad along with his junior team in the same camp.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 12th, 2010.
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