PHF likely to revive selection committee

Move meant to engage with management, form pool of players .

KARACHI: The new Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is considering reviving the national selection committee that was abolished last year, with the decision likely to be expected in December.

The PHF dissolved the selection committee in October 2012 with the idea to bring the team’s selection process at par with that of other major hockey playing countries.

However, according to a top PHF official, the new management was considering reversing the decision.

“The new management is mulling over a system for the selection of players that includes the selection committee,” the official told The Express Tribune.

“The plan is to engage both selectors and the team management who can work together towards building a formidable pool of players.

“Various Olympians will be contacted for the task and a decision may be made next month.”

The previous selection committee comprised Olympian Hanif Khan (chief selector), Arshad Chaudhry and Khalid Bashir.

The official also hinted at retaining Tahir Zaman as team’s head coach under whom Pakistan recently won the Asian Champions Trophy title.

“Although, Tahir has been associated with the team for a while, his first stint as head coach was successful. There is hardly any chance that the management will bring a foreign coach for the national team.”

Meanwhile, the two practice matches between the senior and junior hockey teams will take place at the Johar Hockey stadium in Lahore’s Johar Town Friday and Saturday.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2013.

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