Hockey: Mazhar to lead junior team in Malaysia

Hockey coach terms tour crucial ahead of Asia Cup.

KARACHI:

Upcoming goal-keeper Mazhar Abbas has been named captain of the Pakistan junior hockey team as the national selection committee announced the 18-man squad for their tour of Malaysia next month.

The young brigade will play against the home side on April 6, 8 and 9 before taking on South Korea on April 12 and 13.

Meanwhile, the team manager and head coach Rana Mujahid termed the tour as an important assignment. “We’ll play the junior Asia Cup in May and this tour will prepare us well,” Mujahid told The Express Tribune. “The Asian tournament is important because it will serve as a qualifying event for the next Junior World Cup.”

The squad includes: Abbas, Mohammad Irfan, Amjad Ali, Mohammad Khalid, Mohammad Aleem Bilal, Waseem Abbas, Mohammad Kashif Javed, Tasawwar Abbas, Faisal Qadir, Zohaib Ashraf, Bilal Khan, Fahad Khan, Hafiz Umer Sardar, Mohammad Dilber, Mohammad Jaffar, Mohammad Suleman, Mohammad Umair and Hafiz Rizwan Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2012.