The best squad will be selected: Islahuddin

Chief selector insists Pakistan’s sole aim is to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics

KARACHI: The selection committee of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has reviewed the performance of the national team in the recent international tours and is now waiting to select the best team for the Olympic qualification round next month.

The Pakistan hockey team is expected to return home late Monday or in the wee hours of Tuesday after withdrawing from the last tie of the Test series against Korea.

Chief selector and Olympian Islahuddin Siddiqui said that the selection committee was in regular contact with head coach Shahnaz Sheikh during both the tours — the Four-Nation Hobart International Challenge in Australia and the Korean Test series.



“We were trying out new combinations to bring out the best in the team,” Islahuddin told The Express Tribune. “We believe that the lack of international exposure has made some players rusty, but the recent tours proved quite beneficial for the entire team.”

The former Pakistani captain also said that the hard work and dedication shown by the players proves that Pakistan still can lead in the world of hockey if they are facilitated.

The legend, who won 43 out of 45 international matches and drew two during his time as captain, added that the team’s qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics is a must and that the PHF will select the best team to fulfill that purpose.

“The players who were playing at the international leagues are fully fit, but would only be considered after the trials,” he told. “The best 18-member squad will be selected, with each and every player having no objective other than guaranteeing Pakistan’s place in the 31st Summer Olympic Games.”

The Pakistan team failed to get direct entry to the Rio Olympics after missing out on the gold medal at the 17th Asiad last year and will have to play the qualification rounds — the World Hockey League semi-finals — from June 20 to July 5 in Belgium.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th,  2015.

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