Asian Champions Trophy: Irfan back in Pakistan’s squad for Doha event
Greenshirts make two changes from bronze winning squad.
KARACHI:
Mohammad Irfan has returned to the Pakistan squad after his one-month ban and will fly out to Doha for the Asian Champions Trophy that starts next week.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced the squad after the team management made two changes from the side that recently claimed a bronze medal in the Champions Trophy after a lapse of eight years. Mohammad Umer Bhutta was dropped following ‘unsatisfactory’ performance in Melbourne while Mohammad Rizwan junior will miss the event due to fitness issues.
Apart from Irfan, Salman Hussain made the cut while goal-keepers Imran Shah and Imran Butt were both retained despite a questionable show from the former in London as well as Melbourne. Irfan, who missed the Super Series and the Champions Trophy due to the ban, was well prepared for the tournament.
“I am happy to be back,” Irfan told The Express Tribune. “I played until the final of the NBP Gold Cup that gave me a lot of match practice and I’m looking forward to a good show in Doha.”
Irfan’s original ban was for six months but was reduced to 30 days.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Imran has been retained as captain while Mohammad Waqas remained his deputy. The Asian Champions Trophy will feature India, China, Japan, Malaysia and Oman besides Pakistan and will take place from from December 20 to 27. Pakistan will play their opening match against Japan on December 20 before taking on India a day later.
Squad
Mohammad Imran (c), Muhammad Waqas (vc), Imran Shah, Imran Butt, Syed Kashif Shah, Mohammad Rizwan senior, Mohammad Tousiq, Fareed Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Shafqat Rasool, Abdul Haseem Khan, Ali Shan, Mohammad Ateeq, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Irfan, Salman Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2012.
Mohammad Irfan has returned to the Pakistan squad after his one-month ban and will fly out to Doha for the Asian Champions Trophy that starts next week.
The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) announced the squad after the team management made two changes from the side that recently claimed a bronze medal in the Champions Trophy after a lapse of eight years. Mohammad Umer Bhutta was dropped following ‘unsatisfactory’ performance in Melbourne while Mohammad Rizwan junior will miss the event due to fitness issues.
Apart from Irfan, Salman Hussain made the cut while goal-keepers Imran Shah and Imran Butt were both retained despite a questionable show from the former in London as well as Melbourne. Irfan, who missed the Super Series and the Champions Trophy due to the ban, was well prepared for the tournament.
“I am happy to be back,” Irfan told The Express Tribune. “I played until the final of the NBP Gold Cup that gave me a lot of match practice and I’m looking forward to a good show in Doha.”
Irfan’s original ban was for six months but was reduced to 30 days.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Imran has been retained as captain while Mohammad Waqas remained his deputy. The Asian Champions Trophy will feature India, China, Japan, Malaysia and Oman besides Pakistan and will take place from from December 20 to 27. Pakistan will play their opening match against Japan on December 20 before taking on India a day later.
Squad
Mohammad Imran (c), Muhammad Waqas (vc), Imran Shah, Imran Butt, Syed Kashif Shah, Mohammad Rizwan senior, Mohammad Tousiq, Fareed Ahmed, Rashid Mahmood, Shafqat Rasool, Abdul Haseem Khan, Ali Shan, Mohammad Ateeq, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Shakeel Abbasi, Muhammad Irfan, Salman Hussain.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 15th, 2012.