The junior team’s manager-cum-coach Rana Mujahid announced a 18-player squad at the Hockey Club of Pakistan (HCP) in Karachi yesterday.
Mohammad Irfan has been named as deputy to Abbas in the team that also includes Kashif Javed and Arsalan Qadir.
The colts will leave for the competition tonight where they will play their first match against New Zealand on November 11. In their second match, Pakistan meet Australia the following day and will face archrivals India on November 14 after a day’s rest.
The Abbas-led team will take on hosts Malaysia on November 15 before playing their last league game against Germany on November 17.
Mujahid hopes for good show
Meanwhile, the head coach said he was hoping for a good show from the team.
“We have trained very hard at the camp,” Mujahid told reporters at the HCP. “To be realistic, we don’t have a very good chance to win the title, but this doesn’t mean I am demoralising my side. “It’s a tough event and playing without our main members who are busy with the senior team will make the assignment tougher.”
Zaman to accompany as observer
Meanwhile, Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) coaching consultant Tahir Zaman will accompany the colts in Malaysia.
“It will help in bringing improvement among youngsters,” said Zaman. “I’ve worked with them during the training camp. They are hard working and responded positively.
Pakistan junior team
M Abbas, M Irfan Junior, A Ali, K Bhatti, A Bilal, K Javed, H Shakeel, T Abbas, U Sardar, M Dilbar, M Jaffar, M Suleman, R Ali, M Salim, A Qadir, A Bashir, B Khan, S Qadir.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 6th, 2012.
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