PHF names probables for Commonwealth, Asian Games
KARACHI:
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has ignored short-corner specialist Sohail Abbas and preferred to include youngsters as it named probables for the Commonwealth (CW) and the Asian Games that will be held later this year.
The selection committee has announced the names of 25 players for the camp in Abbottabad before 18 of them would be shortlisted for the second one in the Netherlands ahead of the back-to-back quadrennial spectacles in India and China.
Chief selector and Olympian Hanif Khan said the team does not need the star drag-flicker and added that the selection committee preferred youngsters from Pakistan Whites and Junior squads for the events along with senior national team members.
“We have prepared the list that includes seniors besides members of Pakistan White and Junior teams”, Hanif Khan told The Express Tribune following announcement of the probables.
Meanwhile, Hanif stressed that Abbas’ omission was not a result of his attitude before the Europe tour when he skipped the national camp without informing the PHF.
“PHF has not asked to ignore his (Abbas) name, it is the selection committee’s decision because we don’t feel his need,” said Hanif while adding that the team performed well in Europe in his absence.
Interestingly, Sohail Abbas who is back in town after featuring in Bangladesh League, is representing Wapda in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Karachi and has scored an impressive four goals in two outings so far.
But the chief selector was adamant that the team can perform well without him.
“We have found some good youngsters on the Europe tour, especially Muhammad Tauseeq who converted good penalty corners against Holland and Spain,” said Hanif and added that the youngster can replace Abbas, the world’s leading goal scorer, after gaining experience.
He also informed that Tasawar Abbas, Abdul Ghaffar, Shehbaz Ali, Waqas Akber, Khalid Bhatti and Mohsin Bilal were the players who were picked from the Pakistan Whites and Junior teams.
Following the CW Games, the team will then start preparations for the Asian Games to be held in November.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2010.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has ignored short-corner specialist Sohail Abbas and preferred to include youngsters as it named probables for the Commonwealth (CW) and the Asian Games that will be held later this year.
The selection committee has announced the names of 25 players for the camp in Abbottabad before 18 of them would be shortlisted for the second one in the Netherlands ahead of the back-to-back quadrennial spectacles in India and China.
Chief selector and Olympian Hanif Khan said the team does not need the star drag-flicker and added that the selection committee preferred youngsters from Pakistan Whites and Junior squads for the events along with senior national team members.
“We have prepared the list that includes seniors besides members of Pakistan White and Junior teams”, Hanif Khan told The Express Tribune following announcement of the probables.
Meanwhile, Hanif stressed that Abbas’ omission was not a result of his attitude before the Europe tour when he skipped the national camp without informing the PHF.
“PHF has not asked to ignore his (Abbas) name, it is the selection committee’s decision because we don’t feel his need,” said Hanif while adding that the team performed well in Europe in his absence.
Interestingly, Sohail Abbas who is back in town after featuring in Bangladesh League, is representing Wapda in the ongoing Quaid-i-Azam Gold Cup Hockey Tournament in Karachi and has scored an impressive four goals in two outings so far.
But the chief selector was adamant that the team can perform well without him.
“We have found some good youngsters on the Europe tour, especially Muhammad Tauseeq who converted good penalty corners against Holland and Spain,” said Hanif and added that the youngster can replace Abbas, the world’s leading goal scorer, after gaining experience.
He also informed that Tasawar Abbas, Abdul Ghaffar, Shehbaz Ali, Waqas Akber, Khalid Bhatti and Mohsin Bilal were the players who were picked from the Pakistan Whites and Junior teams.
Following the CW Games, the team will then start preparations for the Asian Games to be held in November.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 30th, 2010.