Sports

Seniors recalled for Hockey World League

PHF names 26-man preliminary squad for Malaysia event.

Fawad Hussain May 23, 2013

Shakeel Abbasi, rested for the Azlan Shah Cup, has been included in the probables list after the PHF thought the team needed experienced players. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI:

The Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) team management has recalled seasoned players Shakeel Abbasi and Waseem Ahmed as it announced a 26-man probables list for next month’s Hockey World League (HWL).

The team management, headed by Akhtar Rasool, had ‘rested’ five seniors including Kashif Shah, Rashid Mehmood and Rizwan Senior for the Azlan Shah Cup to give younger players a chance. However, a last-place finish at the event convinced the PHF to recall the seasoned campaigners.

Meanwhile, five junior players, currently attending a training camp, were not named but will be included in the list of probables after the Europe tour ending June 16. These include Tasawar Abbas, Mohammad Dilbar, Irfan Junior, Mohammad Tauseeq and Ali Shan.

Pakistan will be up against home side Malaysia, Germany, England, and South Korea in the HWL that will be played from June 29 to July 7 in Johor Bahru. The event will also serve as the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in the Netherlands.

Pakistan will need experience: Hanif

Coach Hanif Khan signalled selection for the recalled seniors subject to their fitness.

“Their return strengthens the team,” Hanif told The Express Tribune. “Pakistan will need experience in the HWL as it will be an important tournament before the World Cup. We want stability till the World Cup and we will not make a lot changes barring inevitable reasons.”

Meanwhile, the PHF announced the training schedule for the tournament with the first phase starting from May 29 in Abbottabad.

Probables include Imran Shah, Imran Butt, Mohammad Imran, M Rizwan Senior, Fareed Ahmed, Mehmood, Mohammad Waqas, Shafqat Rasool, Abdul Haseem Khan, Muhammad Ateeq, Waseem Ahmed, Mohammad Kashif Ali, Abbasi, Mohammad Irfan, M Salman Hussain, Talal Khalid, Syed Sibtain Raza, Aamir Shahzad, Mohammad Imran Junior, Muzammil Ishaq Bhatti, Kashif Ali, Arslan Qadir, Mohammad Zubair, Zohaib Ashraf, Yasir Shabbir, Ayub Ali.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24^th, 2013.